The role of media in preadolescents’ self-sexualization: A bioecological perspective

The overall aim of my PhD, supervised by Prof. Eggermont, is to investigate tweens’ (aged 9-12) differential susceptibility to the effects of exposure to sexualizing media content (i.e. content that attaches great importance to physical appearance, heterosexual attraction and romantic and sexual success). More particularly, we aim to examine if self-objectification (i.e. the internalisation of an observer’s evaluative perspective on one’s own body), self-sexualisation (i.e. adoption of the need to look and act according to sexualizing examples), and endorsement of male/female relationship stereotypes are affected by media use.