Influence of Media on Students in Kannur District, Kerala

Every individual is exposed to media at a tender age. Media often portrays a typical image that has led to setting up of certain beauty standards in a society. Previous researches had shown these beauty standards are unachievable, which leads to low self-esteem, feeling of inadequacy and to eating disorders in individuals. Current study analyses the influence of media on students and its relationship with body appreciation and internalization of socio-cultural ideals. The sample (N= 204) consists both male and female students within the age group of 16 to 23 from rural and urban areas. The tools used for the present study are Socio-cultural attitude towards appearance questionnaire (SATAQ-4), Body Appreciation Questionnaire (2006) by Dr.TracyTylka. A Self developed questionnaire adopted from various studies was used to measure influence of media.  Results indicate that media has influence on students and it has significant relationship with internalization of socio cultural ideals. The study also finds though both male and female students are influenced by media at same levels, internalization of socio-cultural attitude towards appearance is higher in males.