Internalization of ideal body shapes in 9-12-year-old girls

Objective Body dissatisfaction is reported in girls as young as 9 years old in Western countries. In the current study, internalization of the “thin ideal” was predicted to be a critical influence on the development of body dissatisfaction. Method Participants (n = 356) were weighed and completed measures of body dissatisfaction, awareness and internalization of the thin ideal, and peer and maternal attitudes and behavior. Exposure to relevant print media was also assessed. Results Body dissatisfaction was associated with a higher body mass index, although it was not restricted to overweight girls. Internalization mediated the relationship between awareness of the sociocultural standard of appearance and body dissatisfaction. Media exposure and peer and maternal weight‐related attitudes and behavior were, in turn, related to awareness, supporting the hypothesized sociocultural processes. Discussion Internalization operates as a central component in the development of body dissatisfaction, occurring at a young age in some girls. Internalization may be a suitable target for preventive strategies. © 2003 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 33: 193–204, 2003.