Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

LIVE: Thursday 2nd May 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)

Quality sleep is essential for health. But what happens to our brains when sleep patterns are disturbed? Join our experts to explore the interplay between sleep disruption and neurological diseases, and the questions that you need to be asking your patients to help you prevent the harmful effects of sleep deprivation.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2011

Open Access 01-12-2011 | Research article

Impact of today's media on university student's body image in Pakistan: a conservative, developing country's perspective

Authors: Amad N Khan, Salema Khalid, Hussain I Khan, Mehnaz Jabeen

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2011

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Living in a world greatly controlled by mass media makes it impossible to escape its pervading influence. As media in Pakistan has been free in the true sense of the word for only a few years, its impact on individuals is yet to be assessed. Our study aims to be the first to look at the effect media has on the body image of university students in a conservative, developing country like Pakistan. Also, we introduced the novel concept of body image dissatisfaction as being both negative and positive.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 7 private universities over a period of two weeks in the city of Karachi, Pakistan's largest and most populous city. Convenience sampling was used to select both male and female undergraduate students aged between 18 and 25 and a sample size of 783 was calculated.

Results

Of the 784 final respondents, 376 (48%) were males and 408 (52%) females. The mean age of males was 20.77 (+/- 1.85) years and females was 20.38 (+/- 1.63) years. Out of these, 358 (45.6%) respondents had a positive BID (body image dissatisfaction) score while 426 (54.4%) had a negative BID score. Of the respondents who had positive BID scores, 93 (24.7%) were male and 265 (65.0%) were female. Of the respondents with a negative BID score, 283 (75.3%) were male and 143 (35.0%) were female. The results for BID vs. media exposure were similar in both high and low peer pressure groups. Low media exposure meant positive BID scores and vice versa in both groups (p < 0.0001) showing a statistically significant association between high media exposure and negative body image dissatisfaction. Finally, we looked at the association between gender and image dissatisfaction. Again a statistically significant association was found between positive body image dissatisfaction and female gender and negative body image dissatisfaction and male gender (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Our study confirmed the tendency of the media to have an overall negative effect on individuals' body image. A striking feature of our study, however, was the finding that negative body image dissatisfaction was found to be more prevalent in males as compared to females. Likewise, positive BID scores were more prevalent amongst females.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Khor GL, Zalilah MS, Phan YY, Ang M, Maznah B, Norimah AK: Perceptions of body image among Malaysian male and female adolescents. Singapore Med J. 2009, 50 (3): 303-311.PubMed
2.
McCabe MP, Ricciardelli LA: Body image and strategies to lose weight and increase muscle among boys and girls. Health Psychol. 2003, 22 (1): 39-46.CrossRefPubMed
3.
Knauss C, Paxton SJ, Alsaker FD: Relationships amongst body dissatisfaction, internalization of the media body ideal and perceived pressure from media in adolescent girls and boys. Body Image. 2007, 4: 353-360. 10.1016/j.bodyim.2007.06.007.CrossRefPubMed
4.
Groesz LM, Levine MP, Murnen SK: The effect of experimental presentation of thin media images on body satisfaction: A metaanalytic review. Int J Eat Disord. 2002, 31 (1): 1-16. 10.1002/eat.10005.CrossRefPubMed
5.
Prevos P: Differences in body image between men and women. Psychology 1A. Monash University
6.
Cheung PC, Ip PL, Lam ST, Bibby H: A study on body weight perception and weight control behaviours among adolescents in Hong Kong. Hong Kong Med J. 2007, 13 (1): 16-21.PubMed
7.
ter Bogt TF, van Dorsselaer SA, Monshouwer K, Verdurmen JE, Engels RC, Vollebergh WA: Body mass index and body weight perception as risk factors for internalizing and externalizing problem behavior among adolescents. J Adolesc Health. 2006, 39 (1): 27-34. 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2005.09.007.CrossRefPubMed
8.
Bellisle F, Monneuse MO, Steptoe A, Wardle J: Weight concerns and eating patterns: a survey of university students in Europe. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1995, 19 (10): 723-730.PubMed
9.
Wardle J, Johnson F: Weight and dieting: examining levels of weight concern in British adults. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2002, 26 (8): 1144-1149. 10.1038/sj.ijo.0802046.CrossRefPubMed
10.
Blokstra A, Burns CM, Seidell JC: Perception of weight status and dieting behaviour in Dutch men and women. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1999, 23 (1): 7-17. 10.1038/sj.ijo.0800803.CrossRefPubMed
11.
Wardle J, Haase AM, Steptoe A: Body image and weight control in young adults: international comparisons in university students from 22 countries. Int J Obes (Lond). 2006, 30 (4): 644-651. 10.1038/sj.ijo.0803050.CrossRef
12.
Stock C, Kücük N, Miseviciene I, Petkeviciene J, Krämer A: Misperceptions of body weight among university students from Germany and Lithuania. Health Education. 2004, 104 (2): 113-121. 10.1108/09654280410525559.CrossRef
13.
Monneuse MO, Bellisle F, Koppert G: Eating habits food and health related attitudes and beliefs reported by French students. Eur J Clin Nutr. 1997, 51 (1): 46-53. 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1600361.CrossRefPubMed
14.
Anstine D, Grinenko D: Rapid screening for disordered eating in college females in the primary care setting. J Adolesc Health. 2000, 26 (5): 338-342. 10.1016/S1054-139X(99)00120-2.CrossRefPubMed
15.
Uzun O, Gulec N, Ozsahin A, Doruk A, Ozdemir B, Caliskan U: Screening disordered eating attitudes and eating disorders in a sample of Turkish female college students. Compr Psychiatry. 2006, 47 (2): 123-126. 10.1016/j.comppsych.2005.05.004.CrossRefPubMed
16.
Sepulveda AR, Carrobles JA, Gandarillas A, Poveda J, Pastor V: Prevention program for disturbed eating and body dissatisfaction in a Spanish university population: a pilot study. Body Image. 2007, 4 (3): 317-328. 10.1016/j.bodyim.2007.05.001.CrossRefPubMed
17.
Presnell K, Bearman SK, Stice E: Risk factors for body dissatisfaction in adolescent boys and girls: A prospective study. Int J Eat Disord. 2004, 36 (4): 389-401. 10.1002/eat.20045.CrossRefPubMed
18.
Zarek A: A comparison of a subjective evaluation of male and female bodies ranging from 19 to 25 years of age. Ann Acad Med Stetin. 2007, 53 (3): 26-33.PubMed
19.
Fallon AE, Rozin P: Sex differences in perceptions of desirable body shape. J Abnorm Psychol. 1985, 94 (1): 102-105.CrossRefPubMed
20.
Barker ET, Galambos NL: Body dissatisfaction of adolescent girls and boys: Risk and resource factors. J of Early Adolesc. 2003, 23 (2): 141-165. 10.1177/0272431603023002002.CrossRef
21.
Tiggemann M, Pennington B: The development of gender differences in body-size dissatisfaction. Aust Psychol. 1990, 25 (3): 306-313. 10.1080/00050069008260025.CrossRef
22.
Hill AJ, Oliver S, Rogers PJ: Eating in the adult world: The rise of dieting in childhood and adolescence. Br J Clin Psychol. 1992, 31 (1): 95-105.CrossRefPubMed
23.
Tiggemann M: Body-size dissatisfaction: Individual differences in age and gender and relationship with self-esteem. Person In Diff. 1992, 13 (1): 39-43. 10.1016/0191-8869(92)90215-B.CrossRef
24.
Lamb CS, Jackson LA, Cassiday PB, Priest DJ: Body figure preferences of men and women: A comparison of two generations. Sex Roles. 1993, 28 (1): 345-358.CrossRef
25.
Mallick MJ, Whipple TW, Huerta E: Behavioural and psychological traits of weight-conscious teenagers: A comparison of eating-disordered patients and high- and low-risk groups. Adolescence. 1987, 22 (85): 157-168.PubMed
26.
Silberstein LR, Striegel-Moore RH, Timko C, Rodin H: Behavioural and psychological implications of body dissatisfaction: Do men and women differ?. Sex Roles. 1988, 19 (3-4): 219-232. 10.1007/BF00290156.CrossRef
27.
Spillman DM, Everington C: Somatotypes revisited: have the media changed our perception of the female body image?. Psychol Rep. 1989, 64 (3): 887-890.CrossRefPubMed
28.
Abell SC, Richards MH: The relationship between body shape satisfaction and self-esteem: An investigation of gender and class differences. J Youth Adolesc. 1996, 25 (5): 691-703. 10.1007/BF01537361.CrossRef
29.
Byrne NM, Hills AP: Should body-image scales designed for adults be used with adolescents?. Percept Mot Skills. 1996, 82 (3): 747-753.CrossRefPubMed
30.
Fear JL, Bulik CM, Sullivan PF: The prevalence of disordered eating behaviours and attitudes in adolescent girls. N Z J Psychol. 1996, 25 (1): 7-12.
31.
Arbour KP, Martin Ginis KA: Effects of exposure to muscular and hypermuscular media images on young men's muscularity dissatisfaction and body dissatisfaction. Body Image. 2006, 3 (2): 153-161. 10.1016/j.bodyim.2006.03.004.CrossRefPubMed
32.
Halliwell E, Dittmar H, Orsborn A: The effects of exposure to muscular male models among men: exploring the moderating role of gym use and exercise motivation. Body Image. 2007, 4 (3): 278-287. 10.1016/j.bodyim.2007.04.006.CrossRefPubMed
33.
Mciza Z, Goedecke JH, Steyn NP, Charlton K, Puoane T, Meltzer S, Levitt NS, Lambert EV: Development and validation of instruments measuring body image and body weight dissatisfaction in South African mothers and their daughters. Public Health Nutr. 2005, 8 (5): 509-519.CrossRefPubMed
34.
35.
36.
Mintz LB, Betz NE: Sex differences in the nature realism and correlates of body image. Sex Roles. 1986, 15 (3): 185-195. 10.1007/BF00287483.CrossRef
37.
McCreary DR, Sasse DK: An exploration of the drive for muscularity in adolescent boys and girls. J Am Coll Health. 2000, 48 (6): 297-304. 10.1080/07448480009596271.CrossRefPubMed
38.
Pope HG, Gruber AJ, Mangweth B, Bureau B, deCol C, Jouvent R, Hudson JI: Body image perception among men in three countries. Am J Psychiatry. 2000, 157 (8): 1297-1301. 10.1176/appi.ajp.157.8.1297.CrossRefPubMed
39.
Anschutz D, Engels R, Leeuwe JV, Strien T: Watching your weight? The relations between watching soaps and music television and body dissatisfaction and restrained eating in young girls. Psychol Health. 2009, 24 (9): 1035-1050. 10.1080/08870440802192268.CrossRefPubMed
40.
Malinauskas BM, Raedeke TD, Aeby VG, Smith JL, Dallas MB: Dieting practices weight perceptions and body composition: a comparison of normal weight overweight and obese college females. Nutr J. 2006, 5: 11-10.1186/1475-2891-5-11.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
41.
Chisuwa N, O'Dea JA: Body image and eating disorders amongst Japanese adolescents. A review of the literature. Appetite. 2010, 54 (1): 5-15. 10.1016/j.appet.2009.11.008.CrossRefPubMed
42.
Baker D, Sivyer R, Towell T: Body image dissatisfaction and eating attitudes in visually impaired women. Int J Eat Disord. 1998, 24 (3): 319-322. 10.1002/(SICI)1098-108X(199811)24:3<319::AID-EAT10>3.0.CO;2-R.CrossRefPubMed
43.
Botta RA: Television images and adolescent girls' body image disturbance. J Commun. 1999, 49 (2): 22-41. 10.1111/j.1460-2466.1999.tb02791.x.CrossRef
44.
Harrison K, Cantor J: The relationship between media consumption and eating disorders. J Commun. 1997, 47 (1): 40-67. 10.1111/j.1460-2466.1997.tb02692.x.CrossRef
45.
Hofschire LJ, Greenberg BS: Media's impact on adolescents' body dissatisfaction. Sexual teens, sexual media: Investigating media's influence on adolescent sexuality. Edited by: Brown JD, Steele JR, Walsh-Childers K. 2002, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 125-149.
46.
Taqui AM, Shaikh M, Gowani SA, Shahid F, Khan A, Tayyeb SM, Satti M, Vaqar T, Shahid S, Shamsi A, Ganatra HA, Naqvi HA: Body Dysmorphic Disorder: gender differences and prevalence in a Pakistani medical student population. BMC Psychiatry. 2008, 8: 20-10.1186/1471-244X-8-20.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
47.
Field AE, Camargo CA, Taylor CB, Berkey CS, Roberts SB, Colditz GA: Peer, parent and media influences on the development of weight concerns and frequent dieting among preadolescent and adolescent girls and boys. Pediatrics. 2001, 107 (1): 54-60. 10.1542/peds.107.1.54.CrossRefPubMed
48.
McCabe MP, Ricciardelli LA: A longitudinal study of body image and strategies to lose weight and increase muscles among children. J Appl Dev Psychol. 2005, 26: 559-77. 10.1016/j.appdev.2005.06.007.CrossRef
49.
McCabe MP, Ricciardelli LA, Holt K: Are there different sociocultural influences on body image and body change strategies for overweight adolescent boys and girls?. Eat Behav. 2010, 11 (3): 156-163. 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2010.01.005.CrossRefPubMed
50.
Xu X, Mellor D, Kiehne M, Ricciardelli LA, McCabe MP, Xu Y: Body dissatisfaction, engagement in body change behaviors and sociocultural influences on body image among Chinese adolescents. Body Image. 2010, 7 (2): 156-164. 10.1016/j.bodyim.2009.11.003.CrossRefPubMed
51.
Shomaker LB, Furman W: Interpersonal influences on late adolescent girls' and boys' disordered eating. Eat Behav. 2009, 10 (2): 97-106. 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2009.02.003.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
52.
Wilkosz ME, Chen JL, Kenndey C, Rankin S: Body dissatisfaction in California adolescents. J Am Acad Nurse Pract. 2011, 23 (2): 101-109. 10.1111/j.1745-7599.2010.00586.x.CrossRefPubMed
53.
Jáuregui Lobera I, Bolaños Ríos P: Body image quality of life in eating disorders. Int J Gen Med. 2011, 4: 63-72.CrossRefPubMed
54.
Stigler MH, Arora M, Dhavan P, Shrivastav R, Reddy KS, Perry CL: Weight-related concerns and weight-control behaviors among overweight adolescents in Delhi, India: A cross-sectional study. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2011, 8 (1): 9-10.1186/1479-5868-8-9.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
Metadata
Title
Impact of today's media on university student's body image in Pakistan: a conservative, developing country's perspective
Authors
Amad N Khan
Salema Khalid
Hussain I Khan
Mehnaz Jabeen
Publication date
01-12-2011
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2011
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-11-379

Other articles of this Issue 1/2011

BMC Public Health 1/2011 Go to the issue

Research article

Impact of meteorological variation on hospital visits of patients with tree pollen allergy

Research article

Sense of coherence predicts post-myocardial infarction trajectory of leisure time physical activity: a prospective cohort study

Research article

Characteristics of tuberculosis patients at intake in Cambodia, two provinces in China, and Viet Nam

Correspondence

Variations in food and drink advertising in UK monthly women's magazines according to season, magazine type and socio-economic profile of readers: a descriptive study of publications over 12 months

Study protocol

Study protocol: a pragmatic randomised controlled trial of a 12-week physical activity and nutritional education program for overweight Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women

Study protocol

A cluster-randomized controlled trial to reduce sedentary behavior and promote physical activity and health of 8-9 year olds: The Transform-Us! Study