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Contents
- Abstract
- Abbreviated Literature Review
- The Media Exposure Factor
- Social Media Use and Media FOMO
- Social Media Use and Peer Competition
- Influences on Body Dissatisfaction—The Home Environment
- Theoretical Foundation
- Social Comparison Theory
- Social-Ecological Model (SEM)
- Method
- Measurements
- Media Usage
- Media FOMO
- Social Comparison
- Appearance Anxiety
- Self-Discrepancy as a Measure of Body Dissatisfaction
- Disordered Eating Attitudes
- Family Pressure
- Life Satisfaction
- Results
- Discussion
- Conclusions
Figures and Tables
Abstract
The present study examined social media behavior variables (i.e., media usage, media fear of missing out [FOMO], social comparison, and appearance anxiety) related to the body and life satisfaction through the lens of social comparison and social-ecological influences utilizing two samples of women—college students and adults (N = 560). Results indicated that increased social media usage predicted media FOMO, social comparison, and appearance anxiety, and those variables also had a significant, positive relationship with disordered eating attitudes. The media behavior variables also had a positive, moderating effect in increasing the relationship between the disordered eating attitudes and body dissatisfaction. Additionally, results verified that body dissatisfaction was positively associated with life satisfaction. The findings of the present study allow for a greater understanding of the increasingly important role social media play in general constructs like self-perception and overall body and life satisfaction.
The research highlights the profound influence of social media on self-perception and well-being, emphasizing the critical implications for educators, policymakers, and mental health professionals navigating the complexities of the digital age in promoting positive self-image and overall well-being.
According to research compiled by the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), approximately 30 million people in the United States will struggle with an eating disorder at some point in their lifetime (n.d.). A related study found that the reported rate of eating disorders on college campuses was at least 25%. The unreported rate is said to be almost double (Dalton et al., 2018). Despite the stereotype that eating disorders are a problem largely associated with women, approximately one in three people struggling with an eating disorder is male (NEDA, n.d.). While eating disorders and related outcomes are now affecting more people across demographic groups, the group most affected by this mental health problem remains women and girls....