Social Media Use and Body Dissatisfaction in Adolescents: The Moderating Role of Thin- and Muscular-Ideal Internalisation

Abstract

Internalisation of appearance ideals moderates the relationship between exposure to media images and body dissatisfaction. To date, the role of thin- and muscular-ideal internalisation in the context of social media remains under explored, particularly for boys. As such, we aimed to explore how social media use (Instagram and Snapchat) was related to body dissatisfaction, and whether thin- and muscular-ideal internalisation would moderate this relationship in a sample of 1153 adolescent boys and girls (55.42% males; Mage = 13.71, SD = 1.14). As hypothesised, social media use, and thin- and muscular ideal internalisation were positively correlated with body dissatisfaction in both genders. In moderation analyses, thin-ideal internalisation emerged as the only variable that had a significant effect on body dissatisfaction in both genders. Additionally, the influence of social media use on body dissatisfaction was moderated by muscular-ideal internalisation in boys, whereby for boys with high muscular-ideal internalisation, greater social media use was associated with greater body dissatisfaction. The two-way (muscular x thin-ideal internalisation) and three-way interaction (social media use x thin-ideal internalisation x muscular-ideal internalisation) effects on body dissatisfaction were non-significant. These findings emphasise the importance of considering the sociocultural environment (i.e., new media influences) as frameworks for understanding body dissatisfaction and suggest targeting of internalisation of appearance ideals in body dissatisfaction prevention programs.

Body Image Concerns: The Impact of Digital Technologies and Psychopathological Risks in a Normative Sample of Adolescents

“…The same was observed in the correlation between IA and BIC; correlations were significant, positive, and moderate for both the total sample and the various groups, with the only exception again being late adolescence (r = 0.190, p = 0.274). These results are in line with previous studies indicating that excessive use of social media can have a negative impact on body image [ 27 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 ].…”

Physical Activity and Body Image Perception in Adolescents: A Systematic Review

“…Especially the mass media can lead adolescents to internalize Western society’s ideals of physical attractiveness and beauty, leading to body dissatisfaction when these standards are perceived as not being met [ 7 , 8 ]. Recent findings have also shown that greater use of social media (Instagram and Snapchat) is associated with higher body dissatisfaction [ 9 ]. In accordance with sociocultural models of the development of body dissatisfaction and eating disorders [ 10 ], pressures on appearance from peers, family, and the media, and psychological processes participate in the onset and persistence of body dissatisfaction: internalization and pressures to conform to these socially prescribed body ideals explain the associations between weight status and BI [ 11 ].…”

“Why don’t I look like her?” How adolescent girls view social media and its connection to body image

“…The dual pathway model suggests sociocultural appearance pressures and the internalization of appearance ideals lead to body dissatisfaction and subsequent risk factors for eating disorder development such as disordered eating behaviors [ 68 ]. Pressure to conform to appearance ideals through adolescent girls’ social media use and the extent to which they internalize these ideals may contribute to body dissatisfaction [ 9 ] and consequently, their likelihood of engaging in disordered eating behaviors with impacts on their mental health [ 68 ].…”

“…Time spent on the Internet has been associated with increased body dissatisfaction among adolescent girls, with the interaction allowed by social media and appearance-focused content influencing body image concerns through negative social comparisons and peer normative processes [ 11 , 19 – 22 ]. Images of attractive thin females, often photo-shopped with filters, feature frequently on social media platforms such as Instagram, promoting stereotyped beauty ideals subsequently affecting viewers’ body image and dissatisfaction [ 9 , 23 ]. The females in images on social media are more commonly peers rather than celebrities like those included in mass media, which may influence body image related attitudes and concerns more significantly, given peers’ relatability and relevance to girls’ daily lives [ 19 , 24 , 25 ].…”