ERIC Number: EJ733162
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2005-Mar
Pages: 9
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0361-6843
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Available Date: N/A
Self-Objectification, Risk Taking, and Self-Harm in College Women
Muehlenkamp, Jennifer J.; Swanson, Jenny D.; Brausch, Amy M.
Psychology of Women Quarterly, v29 n1 p24-32 Mar 2005
Objectification theory proposes that the objectification of women's bodies causes women to self-objectify, adopting an outsider's view of themselves. Engaging in a high amount of self-objectification is thought to place women at increased risk for mental health problems such as body dissatisfaction and depression. It was hypothesized that self-objectification would contribute to negative body regard and depression, which would increase participation in risk-taking and self-harmful behaviors. Structural equation modeling was used to test a model of risk for self-harm based upon objectification theory in a sample of 391 college women. Results indicate that the model provided a good fit to the data, but only the paths from self-objectification to negative body regard, negative body regard to depression, and depression to self-harm were significant. Implications of these findings for objectification theory and our understanding of self-harm in women are discussed.
Descriptors: College Students, Females, Mental Disorders, At Risk Persons, Depression (Psychology), Hypothesis Testing, Self Destructive Behavior, Self Concept, Mental Health, Structural Equation Models, Behavior Theories
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A