Sexual Content in Music's Relationship With Consumers' Body Image, Sexualization and Objectification
Abstract
The current study examined the relationship between sexual content in popular pop, rap, and R&B music videos and female consumers’ body image, self-objectification, the objectification of other women, and self-esteem. The current study had two main hypotheses: (1) exposure to sexual content in music videos would be negatively correlated with women’s body image, self-objectification, and the objectification of other women and (2) Women’s body image and self-objectification would mediate the relationship between exposure to sexual content in music videos and self-esteem. Participants included 308 female college students who answered questions related to the study aims online. Exposure to sexual content in music videos was estimated by the use of self-report viewing habits and content analysis using the frequency method of popular songs performed by artists highly rated by participants. Results indicated that there was a negative association between exposure to sexual content in R&B music videos and participants’ objectification of other women as well as exposure to sexual content in rap music videos was associated with negative body image. Results also indicated that exposure to sexual content in rap music videos was related to increased self-objectification, which, in turn was related to decreased self-esteem among participants. Negative body image was also found to be related to decreased self-esteem among participants.
Thesis Completion
2016
Semester
Fall
Thesis Chair/Advisor
Wright, Chrysalis
Degree
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
College
College of Sciences
Department
Psychology
Degree Program
Psychology
Location
Orlando (Main) Campus
Language
English
Access Status
Open Access
Release Date
December 2016
Recommended Citation
Gilbert, Marika, "Sexual Content in Music's Relationship With Consumers' Body Image, Sexualization and Objectification" (2016). Honors Undergraduate Theses. 130.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/honorstheses/130