[Body language]

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Table of Contents

CHAPTER 4: DATA ANALYSIS & RESULTS1

CHAPTER 5: DISCUSSION8

CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSION16

REFERENCES18

BIBLIOGRAPHY28

Chapter 4: Data Analysis & Results

Before manipulation measures

Body size measurements

Table 1 indicates the mean age and body size measurements of subjects.

Body Image Measurements

The percentage of girls who described themselves as either `thin', `slightly underweight', `just right', `slightly overweight' or `fat' were compared to the actual percentage of girls within each of these categories as defined by Health statistics (U.S. National Centre for Health Statistics, 1990). Table 2 shows that a greater proportion of girls assigned themselves to the overweight categories than was actually the case. Whilst 75.9 per cent described themselves as slightly overweight or obese, only 32.6 per cent of subjects could actually be defined as such according to health statistics. Further, a greater proportion of girls (11.3 per cent) were officially underweight than actually described themselves as such (4.9 per cent). In terms of body shape preferences, as measured using the pictorial body silhouette scale, 54.1 per cent (n = 197) of girls indicated a preferred body shape thinner than their currently perceived shape, and 53.8 per cent (n = 196) even aspired to a shape considered thinner than the norm. In contrast 13.8 per cent (n = 196) chose a broader figure than their currently perceived shape and 3.6 per cent (n = 197) preferred a figure perceived as larger than the norm.

Body Dissatisfaction Measurements

Table 3 illustrates subjects' scores on the measures taken relating to body image dissatisfaction-a behavioural index of dissatisfaction, a measure of dissatisfaction related to individual body parts, and the BSQ. A one-way independent groups ANOVA revealed a statistically significant difference between the year groups on dissatisfaction scores for the various body parts tested, (F(2,196) = 6.08, p<0.01) indicating that the older subjects felt more dissatisfaction. The difference between the second form and sixth form scores were also found to be statistically significant for the behavioural index measure (F (2,190) =4.74, p<0.01), and the BSQ (F (2,174) =5.79, p<0.01). An analysis using a series of one-way independent ANOVAs on the individual components of this measure revealed that the older subjects were more likely than the younger subjects to try to hide their body shape (by for example choosing particular clothes), and were more likely to change their body shape by dieting, (F (2,197) = 4.22, p<0.05; F (2,196) = 3.81, p<0.05). Interestingly, no statistically significant differences were revealed between year groups as to what extent subjects dieted or restrained their food intake (F (2,199) = 2.37, p>0.05). A statistically significant difference was also revealed by a one-way independent groups ANOVA on BSQ scores obtained for second and sixth formers (F (2,147) = 5.79, p<0.05), indicating again that the older subjects were more dissatisfied with their body image.

The Experimental Manipulation

The effect of different types of picture on subjects from different age groups Table 4 indicates subjects' self evaluations, as measured by the various visual analogue scales employed, along with the year groups of subjects', and what type of picture they were shown ...