Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Availability

Open Access Thesis

Keywords

Body image; College students--Attitudes; Health behavior; Physical fitness; Spring break; Academic theses;

Abstract

Research findings focusing on the theoretical foundation for self-objectification suggests that women are more likely to have high levels of objectification for a variety of reasons. To extend this body of research the purpose of this investigation is two-fold: (1) to assess the influence that spring break attendance may have on levels of self-objectification for fraternity and sorority members, and (2) to observe the connections between SO levels and increased levels of physical fitness. This study consisted of (n = 153) college students actively involved in the Greek System at two Mid-west universities. The students were asked to complete three surveys all looking at different dimensions (i.e., Body Consciousness Scale, Body Investment Scale, and Physical Fitness Assessment). The body consciousness scale showed that males and females score the same with respect to control, yet females scored higher than males in both bodily shame and perceived surveillance dimensions, the body investment scale represents that males have higher levels of SO when it comes to the dimensions of touch and feeling, and the physical fitness assessment. Even though, according to the descriptive means males have higher levels of SO in regards to the first dimension; body modification, yet females still have higher levels with regard to the remaining three dimensions; activity trends, approach toward physical fitness, and also eating behavior. When examining the relationship between self-objectification and physical fitness indicators, the surveillance dimension appeared to be the only significant predictor for individuals' self objectification levels. Finally, data in this analysis supports the notion that spring break location (i.e., tropical location, winter vacation, sight seeing trip) has no effect on student's levels of physical fitness preparation.

Year of Submission

2005

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Department of Communication Studies

First Advisor

Paul Turman

Second Advisor

Dean Kruckeberg

Third Advisor

Paul Siddens

Comments

If you are the rightful copyright holder of this thesis and wish to have it removed from the Open Access Collection, please submit a request to scholarworks@uni.edu and include clear identification of the work, preferably with URL.

Date Original

2005

Object Description

1 PDF file (61 leaves)

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

Included in

Communication Commons

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