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Social comparisons on social media: online appearance-related activity and body dissatisfaction in adolescent girls

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 September 2020

M. Scully ,
L. Swords Open the ORCID record for L. Swords [Opens in a new window]  and
E. Nixon
M. Scully
Affiliation:
School of Psychology and Trinity Research in Childhood Centre, Trinity College Dublin
L. Swords*
Affiliation:
School of Psychology and Trinity Research in Childhood Centre, Trinity College Dublin
E. Nixon
Affiliation:
School of Psychology and Trinity Research in Childhood Centre, Trinity College Dublin
*
*Address for correspondence: Lorraine Swords, School of Psychology, Trinity College Dublin (Email: swordsl@tcd.ie)
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Abstract

Introduction:

Adolescents’ engagement with online social networking platforms is advancing at an exponential rate and research is needed to investigate any impact on young users’ mental health. This study examined appearance-related activity (e.g. looking at photos of friends) on social media and body dissatisfaction among adolescent girls.

Methods:

Self-report measures of online appearance-related activity, social comparisons to female target groups, internalization of the thin ideal, body dissatisfaction, and self-esteem were administered to 210 girls (mean age = 15.16 years).

Results:

Body dissatisfaction was significantly related to (i) time spent engaged in social comparisons and (ii) upward social comparisons with various female targets while online. Evaluating oneself less favorably than the target group of close friends was most strongly associated with poorer body image appraisals. Serial multiple mediation analysis revealed that even after controlling for age and self-esteem, time spent engaged in social comparisons significantly mediated the relationship between online appearance-related activity and body dissatisfaction. This association was then further partially mediated by internalization of the thin ideal, which significantly mediated the relationship between time engaged in social comparisons and body dissatisfaction.

Discussion:

Results are discussed in terms of online social media platforms representing an additional appearance culture environment for adolescent girls. The effects of this on the mental health of vulnerable users and how future research should investigate protective factors that may buffer young girls from the adverse effects of social media are considered.

Keywords

Adolescenceappearance-related activitybody dissatisfactionsocial comparisonsocial media
Type
Original Research
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 40 , Issue 1: Themed issue on Public Mental Health , March 2023 , pp. 31 - 42
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The College of Psychiatrists of Ireland

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