Influences that buffer against self-objectification in adolescent girl

This study assessed various personal, sociocultural, and behavioral influences as buffers for adolescent girls against self-objectification. It used multiple regression analyses to determine whether the proposed model would predict appearance schematicity and to assess for the unique contribution of each variable. The sample included 137 adolescent girls, grades 7 through 12, from the state of Tennessee. Data were collected with pencil-and-paper surveys. The model did, indeed, predict appearance schematicity. In addition, two of the predictor variables---perceived sociocultural pressure and peer appearance focus---carried unique predictive value when all other variables were held constant and accounted for 29% of the variance in the determination of appearance schematicity among girls. Family support, extracurricular activity involvement, and life meaning did not offer significant contributions to the prediction of appearance schematicity, although exploratory analyses showed family support to predict sociocultural pressure. The research was guided by social cognitive theory (Bandura, 1989; 2000b), objectification theory (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997; self-schema theory (Markus, 1977); and positive psychology (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000). Results are discussed within the framework of these theories, as are implications for parents, therapists, teachers, and other advocates for healthy youth development.