Measuring Media Literacy: Eating Disorders and the Media

Media literacy is defined as “the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and create media in a variety of forms [1].” Research has shown that the way people perceive media has an impact on how they perceive themselves, their lives, and the world around them.

One study notes that “exposure to media and associated perceived pressures to attain the thin-ideal appearance lead to body dissatisfaction and disordered eating behavior via the mediating processes of internalizing the thin media ideal and appearance comparison [2].”

But how can something as abstract as the way people perceive and internalize media be measured? Researchers are attempting to determine just that by measuring various constructs related to media literacy, namely media processing and critical thinking.

Interpreting Images in the Media

Media processing is “the process by which individuals interpret and internalize media messages and images, and ultimately, whether media messages are accepted or rejected [2].” When analyzing media processing, researchers examine realism (“is this image realistic?”), similarity (“is this image similar to me or my life?”), and desirability (“is this image something that I do/should strive for?”).

Realism is a particularly important aspect of media processing and literacy. If one takes every media image as realistic, they are more likely to internalize these images as something they can and should be able to obtain. Not obtaining these ideals may cause more turmoil for this person than, say, someone who can see the media image as creating an unrealistic standard and, therefore, doesn’t feel a need to live up to it.

Critical thinking is also an important aspect in measuring media literacy. Critical thinking skills “inform interpretation of media and facilitate independent and informed judgments about media [2].”

Critical thinking skills allow a person to see media images and not take them at face-value, “understanding…the purpose of media, including that values and points of view are portrayed in media messages, that media can impact attitudes and behaviors, that various techniques are used to produce media, and that media may, or may not, be a true representation of reality [2].”

One who understands these aspects may see an image that portrays the thin-ideal and incorporate their own knowledge and understanding when determining what it means about their own body or life.

Media Literacy and Eating Disorders

A 2016 study published in the Journal of Eating Disorders was one of the first to attempt to look at some of the above properties and determine their efficacy in determining media literacy. The study found two scales that it recommends be used in future research examining media literacy: The “Realism Skepticism” subscale of the “Media Attitudes Questionnaire” and the “Critical Thinking About Media Messages” scale.

There is more work to be done in regard to measuring and examining media literacy and its impact on eating disorders and body image, but the value in doing so is clear. It is difficult to regulate the beauty and entertainment industries into only publishing realistic and healthy beauty standards. As such, we all must become our very own regulators, remaining aware and conscious of the media we allow ourselves to consume and internalize.

About the Author: Margot Rittenhouse is a therapist who is passionate about providing mental health support to all in need and has worked with clients with substance abuse issues, eating disorders, domestic violence victims and offenders, and severely mentally ill youth.

As a freelance writer for Eating Disorder and Addiction Hope and a mentor with MentorConnect, Margot is a passionate eating disorder advocate, committed to de-stigmatizing these illnesses while showing support for those struggling through mentoring, writing, and volunteering. Margot has a Master’s of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Johns Hopkins University.

References:

The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.

We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.

Published July 7, 2017.
Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on July 7, 2017.
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com