Survey Results After 50 Responses

After surveying a group of 50 college age students the following results show opinions and experience with the media and self image. The questions include personal information and information about others. It is difficult to prove cause and effect with this survey type and size but it does gather noteworthy information about the effects of media consumption.

Results of Media Survey 

Summary See complete responses

On average, how many hours do you spend each day consuming media?
	0 hours 0 0% 2 hours 25 50% 4 hours 15 30% 6 hours 7 14% 8 hours 2 4% 10 hours 1 2% More than 10 0 0%

What type of media do you consume the most?
	Television 7 14% Internet: Reddit, Dig, News sources 9 18% Magazine 0 0% Social Media: Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, GooglePlus 34 68% Radio 0 0% Books or print media 0 0% Other 0 0%

Does consuming media affect your actions?
	Yes 36 72% No 13 26% Other 1 2%

How do you feel when you consume this type of media?

I feel pretty pointless, like I should have something better to do. Not motivated at all.More informed. Entertained. Relaxed after a long day at work.less motivated boredI feel less motivated, but more confident.worse about self imageInformed, educatedAlways less confident. Always less able and motivated. I've quit watching television because it took such a toll on my perspective. Even if media is inspiring, it is rare and is trumped by all of the garbage.stupidIt depends on the programming. More self-aware and makes me compare myself to others and lower my confidence.Less self awareNot a...

How have you seen this directly affect your actions?

I have not seen much happening by direct effects of this mediaDieting, watching my health more carefully. Buying products occasionally.It may effect my thoughts but not my actions.It most directly affects how I eat, and then what and how I buy products. I feel more confident in making goals, but I am less likely to follow through unless I see direct results from others. fashionIt leaves less time to get things done when I am bogged down with too much media (social, internet, etc.) I am not as satisfied with life and it creates a desire in me to do more more more instead of simply being happi...

What types of comparisons do you make to what you view?
	You feel better than what you view 6 13% You feel worse than what you view 12 25% You feel the same 18 38% You feel you should change in a healthy way 25 52% You feel you should change in an unhealthy way 4 8% People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%.

What changes have you actually implemented?
	Diets 16 36% Workouts 28 62% Excessive physical activity 2 4% Extreme diets 3 7% Consuming more related media 21 47% Consuming less related media 4 9% Other 4 9% People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%.

Do you believe you do or have struggled with disordered eating?
	Yes 8 16% No 27 54% Somewhat 14 28%

How many people do you know that have struggled with disordered eating or eating disorders?
	less than 5 23 46% 5 to 10 19 38% 10 to 15 6 12% 15 to 20 1 2% Other 1 2%

In general what influences did you observe to have the greatest effect on them?

Media and friends and familyFamily and peer pressureI never asked, but out of the three girls I have known with bulimia I never remember them talking about media or women in the media that they wanted to look like. If anything, they were comparing themselves to friends or just wanting to be a certain size.Peer pressure and coaches - especially coaches related to exercise. Family and friends generally gave the opposite pressure. media, stress, family, those aroundI believe that media is the biggest form of peer pressure we all suffer from. Billboards, magazines, television, etc. MediaMedia...

What actions did they take to reach their ideal body?
	Diets 23 48% Working Out 21 44% Excessive physical activity 22 46% Extreme diets 33 69% Other 6 13% People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%.

What effect do you think the media has on body image?

The media has tried to make it seem that it is only beautiful for a woman or man to be skinny or well built and that that will be the only way to be accepted in the world.Has tended to over-emphasise the importance of being thin. Recent reversal of this trend is encouraging. There are some very good shows on TV about balance in life, including healthy dietary lifestyles.I don't believe that the media has a large effect.I think it affects both men and women, generally in a negative way. It distorts what is reality by shows us images of people who do not represent the average in anyway. very n...

What changes do you think should be made to regulate the media's effect on self image?

less use of photoshop and more natural men and women shown in the media Balanced coverage of issues. Informative programs showing different points of view.Self image is based on the ideas that one has of them self, not on what is presented in front of them. If someone is effected by what is presented in front of them they already have issues that won't go away even if the media is gone.I think people should be average on television, and that media must be held accountable for portraying reality in a distorted way. There should be stricter policies with regards to photoshop especially in hea...