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The Effect of Thinness Promoting Reality TV Shows on Being At-Risk for an Eating Disorder
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by Allison Jorissen, F. Richard Ferraro and Nikki Sandau - The University of North Dakota
This study examines whether or not college women determined to be at risk for an eating disorder are more prone to watch reality television shows that are thinness-promoting than those women not determined to be at risk for an eating disorder. The participants were 53 college women recruited from undergraduate psychology classes. They were assigned to one of two groups: at risk for an eating disorder or not at risk for an eating disorder. All participants completed a survey designed to determine their reality show viewing preferences and frequencies. While we expected that the at-risk group would prefer watching reality shows that are thinness-promoting and will watch them more frequently than the group containing participants who are not at risk for an eating disorder, these effects did not materialize. Possible explanations for this result are discussed.