More from Prevention: 4 Body Language Tricks To Boost Your Confidence
In a series of experiments, psychologists tested the idea that women exposed to thin media figures might actually feel better about themselves if they liked—or at least found similarities with—those celebrities.
In one experiment, half the participants were told they had the same birthday as a model before seeing her image, while the rest weren't given that tidbit of info. In another test, women were asked to write an essay about either their favorite celebrity or a pre-selected starlet they didn't particularly adore. Researchers then evaluated how the women perceived their own bodies, and how they perceived those of the celebrities.
In both instances, those who shared a birthday with a celeb, or wrote an essay about their starlet idol, felt better about their bodies compared to those who didn't. These women also perceived their physiques as slimmer, and more similar to the celebs in question.
So why did this work? The body-image boost happened because women took a more holistic view of the celebrities they saw, says lead study author Ariana Young, a PhD candidate in the department of psychology at the University at Buffalo, State University of New York. “When they look at the whole person, they can find similarities with them,” she says. “By extension, they think their body is more similar, too.”
To turn this research into a body-image boost, Young suggests focusing on what you have in common with media figures—whether it’s a birthday, a love of yoga, or even a shared hair color. “Rather than seeing a celebrity as competition, see them as a friend,” she says. “If you feel that bond or connection, media figures are less likely to have harmful effects.”
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