The messages given by parents and peers are strong influencers in a young girl's self-image. Over the years, studies have found that, while the media does exert influence, the opinions of parents and other adolescents also affect a girl's opinion of her appearance.

"Pike & Rodin (1991) found that mothers whose daughters were eating disordered were themselves more eating disorders, and thought that their daughters should lose more weight than the mothers of non-eating disordered girls."

Family support of weight acceptance and appearance has been reported as an important factor in a girl's overall self-acceptance and self-esteem.

Read more at About-Face.org.

Labels: media_influences, self-image_issues, parents

Posted By: Aspen Education Group