Meta-Analysis of a Nursing Journal
SJ Marshall, et. al (2004) reviewed the empirical evidence of associations between TV viewing, usage of computers and video games and the occurrence of body fatness and physical activities by using meta-analysis in its research design. The authors looked at the studies published in English in various literature generated from computerized searches. Based on this rich body of literature, at least one empirical association between the viewing TV, and playing computer games and the level of fitness or fatness of the samples comprised of young people ages 3-18.
By looking at the mean sample-weighted corrected effect size, the researchers concluded that although the relationship between the independent and the dependent variables was statistically significant, such relationship was not strong enough. Hence, single indicators of inactivity may be inadequate in explaining their relationships.
Another issue that emanates from obesity is self-esteem. Children afflicted with obesity tend to have lower self-esteems compared with their peers. Groesz, Levine & Murnen (2001) studied the impact of thin beauty ideal of female body portrayed in mass media. They used meta-analysis and drew on the data gathered from 25 studies. The researchers particularly looked at the moderating effects of the body image problems of children and youth, age, the frequency of exposure to the mass media beauty ideal as well as the type of the research design. They found out that body image tends to fall down more after subjects view the images of bodies that are portrayed as ideal by mass media. Those who are less than twenty years old tend to be affected more by this phenomenon. Hence, the meta-analysis of the study showed that promoting the ideal body helps promote dissatisfaction among those who are exposed to such ideal body type.
These two meta-analyses drew upon secondary data, namely, the data from published studies considered as the sample of the study. The problem with this method is that the variables and the operationalization of the variables under consideration are different. The difficulty would be looking the similarities and ensuring that the variables can be generalizable and would really measure the intended variables in the study. The use of statistics on both studies mentioned above may be weakened if it were shown that the statistics, questionnaires and data gathering of each of the studies considered were largely divergent and do not correspond with each other.
Nonetheless, the results of these two studies point out the importance of looking at the role of media in the self-esteem of children afflicted with obesity, body satisfaction, and physical activity. Yet, in terms of decision making, intervention strategies should demonstrate research-based evidence to become sound. The studies mentioned above used, which used meta-analysis would be a great means to understand trends and emerging issues in the field of study. Yet, for intervention, the evidence upon which the decisions were to be made should be empirical and would be based on research (French, 2002)
Reference
French, P. (2002). What is the evidence on evidence-based nursing? An epistemiological concern. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 37(3), 250-257.
Groesz, LM, Levine MP, & Murnen SK (2001). The Effect of Experimental Presentation of Thin Media Images on Body Satisfaction: A Meta-Analytic Review. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 31 (1), 1-16.
Marshall, SJ, Biddle SJH, Gorely, T, Cameron N & Murdey I. (2004). Relationships between media use, body fatness, and physical activity in Children and Youth: A Meta Analysis. International Journal of Obesity (2004) 28, 1238–1246.