Citation

Rubinsky V, Hosek AM, Hudak N. Health Commun. 2018; ePub(ePub): 1-9.

Affiliation

School of Communication Studies , Ohio University.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10410236.2018.1504659

PMID

30067399

Abstract

This study investigated the content of memorable body messages that college women recall receiving in their childhood, and the relationship of those messages to state body image satisfaction, self-esteem, rape myth acceptance, and likelihood to report rape or sexual assault. Memorable messages were mostly about body size, body type, body parts, haptic messages, body positivity, and development. Mothers were the most frequent source of memorable body messages during childhood. Although there was no difference in any of the dependent variables based on the content of the message, there was a relationship between perceived message valence with body image, self-esteem, and rape myth acceptance. Messages that participants interpreted as more positive and beneficial were associated with higher body image satisfaction, higher self-esteem, and increased rape myth acceptance.

Language: en