Year: 2020
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between social media use and body image satisfaction in young adults and whether this relationship between these variables is different among gender. A convenience sampling was used to recruit participants via social media platforms. A total of 152 participants took part in the study consisting of 110 (72.4%) females and 42 (27.6%) males between the ages of 18 and 29. Participants completed an anonymous online survey including demographics and two questionnaires; the Body Image States Scale and Social Media Use Integration scale. A Pearson's correlation and a two-way between groups ANOVA were performed to determine the results of this study. A significant, small, negative correlation was found between social media use and body image satisfaction with a p value =.018. There was no interaction effect found between gender and social media use (p = .078) and the main effect for gender was non-significant (p=.056). Gender was not a moderating factor. The main effect for social media use was statistically significant (p = .018). The findings of this study are important because high levels of social media use are associated with body dissatisfaction in both males and females. Therefore, media literacy interventions could be very effective to prevent body image dissatisfaction and educate young people on how to use social media appropriately.
Source: NORMA
Author: Sara Isufaj
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: National Cancer Institute
OpenAlex ID: W3168337548