Abstract
With the increasing availability of magazines depicting the ideal male figure, body image concerns and dissatisfactions are becoming more prominent in males (Morry & Staska, 2001). The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of viewing health/fitness and sports magazine images on male body perceptions and exercise related cognitions. Participants (N=280, mean age 36.34, range 18-68 years) were randomly assigned to view magazine images in one of three conditions: image-only, magazine cover, or control. Participants then self-reported internalization, self-objectification, reasons for exercise, and exercise intentions. A series of 3 (condition) by 3 (age) ANOVA analyses were conducted. Participants in the image-only group displayed the greatest level of internalization-general: F(2, 271) = 5.65, p = .004, ?2 = .040. Furthermore, compared to younger or middle aged males, older males reported less internalization-general, F(2, 271) = 15.19, p = .000, ?2 = .101, internalization-athlete, F(2, 271) = 13.07, p = .000, ?2 = .088, and self-objectification, F(2, 271) = 6.13, p = .002, ?2 = .043. These findings suggest that males are not influenced by the media to the same extent as females are. In addition, these findings support claims made by Fredrickson and Roberts (1997) regarding the decreasing influence of the media as individuals grow older. The outcomes of this study may help expand research regarding the powerful force of mass media and its influence on consumers.
