Epidemiological data show that eating disorders (EDs) in industrialized countries may be linked to the cultural context, of which print media may be one important etiological component. Ideal-type print media are magazines that are geared toward women and include topics such as women’s health, women’s interests, fashion, beauty, and celebrity topics. There is an existing gap in the current literature regarding adult middle-aged women’s perception of eating behaviors and the impact of ideal-type print media on eating behaviors. Most of the research on eating behaviors and the possible link to media exposure comes from studies on White adolescent girls. Based on Fairburn’s model of the cognitive or informative-processing theory of EDs, the purpose of this research was to determine the relationship between ideal-type print media and ED behaviors among subscribers and nonsubscribers of ideal-type print media. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was used to collect data on eating behaviors among a convenience sample of 190 women, ages 35-54, residing in the United States. Analysis of variance was used to determine the relationship between subscribers and nonsubscribers of ideal-type print media and ED behaviors. Contrary to results from studies using younger women, it was found that the means for women’s dieting eating behaviors, F 01(1,188) = 3.92, p < .05, and oral control eating behaviors, F (1,188) = 9.55, p < .05, in nonsubscribers were significantly higher than the means for subscribers of ideal-type print media. Implications for positive social change include use of media messages to educate women about prevention strategies to develop positive body image and that can lead to decreased body dissatisfaction.
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