BLINDE D

BEAUTY:

(Howdoessocialmediaaffectteenagegirlsselfesteem?)

By:AlexisBautistaandEricaPortilloMoreno

AcademyforMath,Engineering,andScience.

Introduction:
Currentlyupto90percentofwomenwanttochangeatleastoneaspectoftheirphysicalappearance (Speak,2010).Thisgrowingconcernwillresultinanepidemicforgirlsandyoungwomenifitsnotbrought totheattentionofthepubliceye.SocialmediaisgreatlyinfluencingtheperspectiveofgirlsallagesItmostly focusesonbodyimage,leadingwomentobecomeunsatisfiedwiththeirownbodies.Girlsareexposedto themediaatayoungageandoverthelongrunitcanruintheirselfesteem,physicalandmentalhealth.This isagrowingconcernthatisbeingignoredbymanypeopleeverywhere.

Seventyfivepercentofgirlswithlowselfesteemreportedengaginginnegativeactivitiessuchas disorderedeating("Dosomething.org,"2010).Thissurprisingstatisticshowshowgirl'sselfesteemhasbeen destroyedovertheyears.Theseyoungwomenarebeingcriticizedbysociety,yetsocietycantreachthe standardsthattheyareputtingonothers.Thisisveryimportantbecausemanygirlsareputtingthemselvesin harmsway,tolookthewaysocietywantsthemtobe.Girlsaretakingthisideallooktoextremesby becomingbulimic,anorexic,andevendepressed.

InarecentsurveybyTeenPeoplemagazine,27%ofthegirlsfeltthatthemediapressuresthemto haveaperfectbody(Maine&Maine,2011).Socialmediamayhaveastrongerimpactonhealththanwe believe.Girlsfeeltheneedtolooklikemodels,butthetruthistheaverageAmericanwomenis54and weighsapproximately140poundsandtheaverageAmericanmodelis511andweighs117pounds

("Pbs.org,"2003).Thebodytypeportrayedinadvertisingastheidealisonlypossessednaturallybyonly5% ofAmericanfemales("anad.org,"2012).Intodaysworldwithsomuchmediaaroundusitisnearly impossibletoignoreit,thatwefeedintothisliethatweneedtobeperfectandthin,forgettingthathealth shouldcomefirst.

Thisishurtinggirlsphysicallyandmentallyworldwideandcausingdisorderssuchasbulimia, anorexia,andevendepression.Twentypercentofpeoplesufferingfromanorexiawilldiefromcomplications relatedtotheireatingdisorder,includingsuicideandheartproblems(anad,2012).Americanswhoare overweightalsotendtobediagnosewithdepression.Thisissomethingthatcanbestoppedifmore Americanspaidattentiontotheirhealth.

Question:
Howdoessocialmediaaffectsgirlsandyoungwomenselfesteem?

Hypothesis:

Themoreoftengirlsareexposedtosocialmediathemorelikelytheywillhaveissueswiththeir selfesteemduetotheunrealisticpressuresputonthembysociety.

Materials:
Listofmaterials: 1.Accesstogirlsin9thgradethrough12thgrade. 2.Paper 3.Consentforms 4.Humantestforms 5.Computer 6.Ink 7.Print8.Flashdrive Subjects: Ages:1418 Gender:Girls Howmany:90 Variables: Independent:Youngwomen Dependent:Slideshow Controlled:Survey

Methods:
1. Writeconsentforms 2. Handoutconsentformstostudent 3. Writesurveys 4. Numbersurveys 5. Gointoclassrooms 6. Surveystudentsafterwevecollectedconsentwithparentalconsent. 7. Showstudentsapresentation 8. Havestudentswritesamenumberfromothersurveyonnextsurvey

9. Havestudentsatakedifferentsurvey 10. Collectsurveys 11. Analyze

Results:
Whatwehavebeennoticingfromourdatasofarthatithasprovenuscorrect,ourcontrolgroups (natureslideshow)pretestandposttestwouldremainthesame.Thetwootherexperimentalgroupswould eithergoupordowndependingonwhattheslideshowshowed,thehighstandardpeople(godown)andthe normaleverydaypeople(goup).Byanalyzingourdataandourresults:

CelebritiesPowerPoint:Peopletendtogetquieterandstartcomparingthemselvestothecelebrities, andtendtolowertheirbodyscoresandcirclenegativethingsaboutthemselvesontheposttest.

NaturePowerPoint:Wenoticethatithasnoeffectonthebeforeandaftersurveythenumbersstay thesame.

NormalPowerPoint:Thegirlsstarttofeelliketheybelongandnormallikealltheothergirlsshown ontheslide,theirscoresonratingthemselvesgoupandstarttocirclepositivethingsaboutthemselves.

Discussion:

Overallourexperimentationwentwellbutthingswewouldfixinthefutureiswewouldbetofindan easierwaytocompareresultstooneanother,trynottolimittheiroptions,trytofindoutwhichtypeofmedia wasmoreeffective.Howwewouldbuildoffthisdataistryingtoseeifthereisacorrelationbetween differentethnicities,agegroup,andifwehadmoretimetakentoaccountwewouldseehowsocialmedia affectsmales.Socialmediahasbecomeahugepartofoureverydaylives,itseverywhere.Somepeopleare exposedtoitmorethanothers,doesbeingexposedtocertaintypesofmediachangeyourperceptiononthe wayyoulookandthings,people,andonyourself?Fromtestingandresearchwefeellikethereisagreat chancethatthischangespeoplesperceptionsononeanother,themselves,andontheireverydaylifestyle. Wevenoticethatthetypeofmediateenagersareexposedtothesedays(ex:celebrities,socialnetworks, television,magazines)haveagreatimpactandpressurefortheirexpectations.Butwhatisactualbeauty? Societyanswer:Thin,tan,andtall.Teensaretryingtoreachexpectationsthatareimpossibletoreachunless withthehelpofphotoshop.Thesepeoplethatteenscallrolemodelswalkingontheredcarpet,areall photoshopped.Noonecanbeperfect.Byanalyzingourdatawehavenoticedthatgirlsinparticularseemto havelowerselfesteemandaremorevulnerabletomedia.Girlstendtocomparethemselvestoothersand feelintimidatedbyothergirls.Ourdatashowshowgirlsusuallyratethemselvesaverageabouta5onascale from1to10(1beingselfconsciousand10beingconfident).Manyareconcernedabouttheirweightand bodytype.Thisisbecomingabigproblempeoplesdietsusuallyconsistofeatingonlyonemealperday

withoutdoinganyexercise,whichisnothealthy.Thisisgoingtobecomeahugeproblemifwedontchange somethingnow.

Conclusion:
Thedatawehavegatheredsupportsourinitialhypothesisthatsocialmediaisharmfultotheself esteemofteenagegirls.Thefactthatsocialmediacanbesoharmfultotheselfesteemofteenagegirlsis indicativeoftheimpactpopularculturecanhaveonadolescents,withfemalesbeinginfluencedmuchmore significantlythanmales.

References:
Dray,S.(2011,February24).Livestrong.com.Retrievedfrom http://www.livestrong.com/article/390541factsstatisticsaboutdieting/ Dosomething.org.(2010).Retrievedfrom http://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/11factsaboutteensandselfesteem Maine,M.,&Maine,M.(2011,Dec23).Crisisconnection.Retrievedfrom http://www.crisisconnectioninc.org/teens/media_influence_on_youth.htm Pbs.org.(2003).Retrievedfrom http://www.pbs.org/perfectillusions/eatingdisorders/preventing_facts.html Anad.org.(2012).Retrievedfrom http://www.anad.org/getinformation/abouteatingdisorders/eatingdisordersstatistics/ Livestrong.com.Retrievedfrom http://www.livestrong.com/article/390541factsstatisticsaboutdieting/ Speak,K.D.S.(2010,June).Confidencecoalition.org.Retrievedfrom http://www.confidencecoalition.org/statisticswomen

Consentforms
DearParents/Guardians, We,AlexisBautistaandEricaPortilloMoreno,arejuniorsattheAcademyforMath,Engineering,&Scienceparticipatingin thesciencefairprogram.Weareworkingonasciencefairprojectthatwillrequiretestingover100teenagers.Thepurpose ofthisprojectistoanalyzehowsocialmediaaffectsteenagers.ThisstudywilltakeplaceatAMEShighschoolanda varietyofotherschoolsinthearea. Whatisinvolvedintesting: A.Wewillcomeinatanassignedtimeapprovedbytheteacherandconductourstudy. B.Tostartourstudy,wewillhavethestudentstakeasimple2minutesurvey. C.Theywillthenbeshownaslideshowwhichwillbeapproximately23minutes. D.Thenwewillhaveanothersurveytakentocomparesurveys. E.Thiswilltakeapproximately10minutes,studentswillthencontinuewiththeirclassmaterial. Safety: A.Asafetycommitteehasevaluatedandapprovedthisstudy. B.Subjectswillnotbeidentified,meaningwewillnotbeabletolinkasurveytothestudent. C.Thismayaffectemotionaldistressforexample:Happiness,sadness,tranquility,relaxation,peacefulnessetc D.Slideswillnotdepictviolence,nudity,orotherintentionallyoffensivebehavior. E.Ifyoufeeluncomfortableduringthesurvey,youarewelcometoleaveanytimewithoutrepercussions.

Wehaveputalotoftimeandeffortintothissurveyandwehopeyouwillallowustosurveyyourstudent.Ifyouare interestedingivingyourstudentpermissiontoparticipate,wewillneedconsentsignaturesontheattachedform.Thefinal researchreportwillbemadeavailabletointerestedparentsandstudents. Ifyouhaveanyquestions,pleasecontacttheScienceFairResearchcoachforthisproject,HolliannMcDougal (sciencefair@amesslc.org) Thankyouforyourtime. Sincerely,

AlexisBautista

EricaPortillo

AMESStudentScientistAMESStudentScientist _YES,Idoallowmystudenttoparticipateinthisstudy(checkmarkboxtotheleft): _NO,Idonotallowmystudenttoparticipateinthisstudy(checkmarkboxtotheleft)

ParentSignature:_____________________________Date:____________________ Studentsname(printed):________________________

PreTestSurvey:
Age: Gender:MaleFemale HowmanyhoursadayyouwatchTV? None 12hours 24hours 46hours 7+hours Doyoureadmagazines?(Circle)YesNo Ifyes,whatkindofmagazines?(Checkallthatapply) _People_Seventeen_NationalGeographic_Time_SportsIllustrated _NationalEnquirer_USWeekly_Womens/MensHealth_Other IfOther,whichones?_________________ HowmanytimesdoyoucheckinwithSocialMediasitesperday? None 12times 34times morethan5times Howcomfortabledoyoufeelaboutyourbody?(Markonscale) (Selfconscious) (Okay) (Confident) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Ifyoucouldchangeonethingaboutyourselfinthefollowingcategories,whatwoulditbe? Appearance:__________________________________________ Personality:____________________________________________ Areyoucurrentlydieting?(Circle)Yes No Doyouplaysports?(Circle)Yes No Howmanyhoursadaydoyouplaysports?(circleone) None 12hours 24hours 46hours

7+hours

 Doyouregularlyeatbreakfast,lunch,dinner?Yes No Ifno,whichonedoyouskip?(Circleallthatapply) Breakfast Lunch Dinner Howlongdoyoutaketogetreadyforschool?(Circleone) Lessthan30minutes30min1hour12hours 24hours4+hours Whatdoyouspendthemosttimedoinginthemorning?(Checkone) _Showering _EatingBreakfast _Homework _PersonalAppearance _GettingDressed

PreTestSurvey:

CircleallthewordsbelowthatYOUfeeldescribeyourself: Outgoing Angry Loyal Humble Happy Ambitious Easygoing Ugly Sad Skinny Demanding Likeable Stubborn Beautiful Friendly Polite Confident Shy Nice Outspoken Cocky Smart Honest Rude Annoying Cute Funny Disrespectful Approachable Mean Generous Sociable Now,circletheonesthatdescribehowOTHERSseeyou. Outgoing Angry Loyal Humble Happy Ambitious Easygoing Ugly Sad Skinny Demanding Likeable Stubborn Beautiful Friendly Polite Confident Shy Nice Outspoken Cocky Smart Honest Rude Annoying Cute Funny Disrespectful Approachable Mean Generous Sociable

Shallow Important Attractive Insecure Tall Trustworthy Brave Successful

Shallow Important Attractive Insecure Tall Trustworthy Brave Successful

PostTestSurvey: CircleallthewordsbelowthatYOUfeeldescribeyourself: Outgoing Angry Loyal Humble Happy Ambitious Easygoing Ugly Sad Skinny Demanding Likeable Stubborn Beautiful Friendly Polite Confident Shy Nice Outspoken Cocky Smart Honest Rude Annoying Cute Funny Disrespectful Approachable Mean Generous Sociable Now,circletheonesthatdescribehowOTHERSseeyou. Outgoing Angry Loyal Humble Happy Ambitious Easygoing Ugly Sad Skinny Demanding Likeable Stubborn Beautiful Friendly Polite Confident Shy Nice Outspoken Cocky Smart Honest Rude Annoying Cute Funny Disrespectful Approachable Mean Generous Sociable

Shallow Important Attractive Insecure Tall Trustworthy Brave Successful

Shallow Important Attractive Insecure Tall Trustworthy Brave Successful

Ifyoucouldalteronepersonalitytrait,whatwoulditbe?__________________

 Ifyoucouldalteryourappearance,whatwouldyoudo? ____________________ Howcomfortabledoyoufeelaboutyourbody? (Selfconscious)(okay)(Confident) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10