Poster #126 - Conversations with Friends and Media Influence Predicting Aggression and Social Anxiety: Exploring Moderation by Gender

• In Event: Poster Session 14

Abstract

Theoretical Background
Body image encompasses affective, cognitive, perceptual, and behavioral aspects of one’s appearance (Cash & Smolak, 2011). The Tripartite Model of Body Change Behaviors (Thompson et al., 1999) posits that influence from parents, peers, and media leads to greater internalization of ideal bodies, which, in turn, results in body dissatisfaction. These influences, however, likely impact more aspects of development than just an individual’s body image. It is important to understand how peer and media influences are internalized/externalized by children and how they influence social development. In the current study, we examined how peer and media influences on body image are related to children’s social anxiety and aggression, which are considered central aspects of social well-being (e.g., Rubin et al., 2009).
Research Questions & Hypotheses
We addressed two research questions: (1) Do peer and media body image relate to children’s social anxiety and aggression? (2) Does gender moderate the relations between peer influence and media influence and social anxiety and aggression?
We hypothesized that peer and media influence would relate to greater aggression and social anxiety. Due to different socialization goals and behavioral norms for boys and girls (cite), we hypothesized that positive relations between peer/media influence and social anxiety would be more pronounced for girls and that positive relations between peer/media influence and aggression would be more pronounced for boys.
Method
Participants were 468 elementary school students (33.3% 1st grade; 34.0% 3rd grade; 32.7% 5th grade; 51% female) from elementary schools in the Southwestern United States and their parents. Parents completed the Conversations with Peers Scale (peer influence), Media Influence Scale, Child Behavior Scale (Aggressive Behaviors subscale), and the Social Anxiety Scale for Children - Revised (Jones, et al., 2004; α = .90; Cusimano & Thompson, 2000; α = .89; Ladd et al., 2009; α = .68; La Greca & Stone, 1993; α = .72, respectively). Conversations with Peers assesses the degree to which parents perceive that their child is engaging in appearance conversations with peers, and Media Influence Scale assesses the degree to which parents perceive that their child tries to look like figures in media.
Results
Path analyses found that peer influence positively predicted aggressive behavior (β = .05, p < .05), but not social anxiety (β = .03, p = .32), whereas media influence positively predicted social anxiety (β = .08, p < .05), but not aggressive behavior (B = .06, p = .052).
Gender moderated the relation between peer influence and aggression indicated by a significant interaction term (β = .14, p < .05). Specifically, peer influence was positively related to aggression for boys only (β = .15, p < .05). Gender also moderated the relation between media influence and social anxiety (β = .23, p < .05), such that media influence was positively related to social anxiety for boys only (β = .29, p < .05).
Conclusion
Boys may internalize and externalize appearance influences more directly than girls. These findings signify the importance of understanding different gendered pathways regarding appearance influences and their effects on social development broadly.

Authors

• Aubrey Hoffer, Arizona State University
  Presenting Author

• Sonya Xinyue Xiao, Northern Arizona Univeristy

• Dawn DeLay, Arizona State University

• Carol Lynn Martin, Arizona State University

• Laura D Hanish, Arizona State University