The influence of media and thin idealization on attitudes and behaviour towards obese individuals.

• Main Author: Ko, Si Hui.
• Other Authors: Ang Pei-Hui, Rebecca
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences::Sociology::Social psychology
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/39958
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

There were two aims to this study. The first objective was to examine relations among media exposure, thin idealization and negative attitudes held towards obese individuals. The second objective was to examine relations between negative attitudes held towards obese individuals and behaviour towards them. A total of 481 Singaporean students 10 - 17 years old from two primary schools and a secondary school participated in the investigation. Using the framework by Baron and Kenny (1986), thin idealization was found to fully mediate the relationship between media exposure and negative attitudes held towards obese others. A significant association was also found between negative attitudes and behaviour towards obese individuals. Implications of these results on reducing discrimination of obese children in Singapore schools are discussed.