Repercussões das Redes Sociais na Imagem Corporal de Seus Usuários: Revisão Integrativa

This integrative review of literature followed the PICO strategy to investigate the repercussions of the use of social networks on the body image of their users. PubMed, LILACS, PsycINFO and SciELO databases were included as well as articles published between January 2006 and February 2019. Thirty-three articles were analyzed, which compose the corpus of this review. The studies revealed that social networks have a predominantly negative repercussion on the body self-image of their users, increasing levels of body dissatisfaction, also having a negative impact on mood and self-esteem. Added to this, social networks influenced the body type that users would like to have, translated by the lean body profile, considered a model of beauty.Esta revisão integrativa da literatura seguiu a estratégia PICO para investigar as repercussões do uso das redes sociais na imagem corporal de seus usuários. Foram consultadas as bases PubMed, LILACS, PsycINFO e SciELO e incluídos artigos publicados entre janeiro de 2006 e fevereiro de 2019. Foram analisados 32 artigos na íntegra, que compuseram o corpus dessa revisão. Os estudos revelaram que as redes sociais repercutem predominantemente de forma negativa na autoimagem corporal de seus usuários, aumentando os níveis de insatisfação corporal e gerando impacto negativo no estado de humor e na autoestima. Somado a isso, as redes sociais influenciaram no tipo corporal que os usuários gostariam de ter traduzido pelo perfil corporal magro, considerado como modelo de beleza

ONLINE SOCIAL COMPARISON ITS ROLE IN PREDICTING INDIVIDUALS’ WELL-BEING

Social comparison is the practice through which people compare their own opinions, abilities, behaviours, and emotions with those of others as an external guide and a source for self-evaluation. Social comparison has been put forward as a core feature of interpersonal relationships both in the offline context and in virtual interactions through social media. A growing number of studies has highlighted that online social comparison through social media can influence individuals’ everyday life. In this thesis, I will examine the role of online social comparison in influencing individuals’ well-being in three research designs with different outcomes. In the first empirical study, a cross-lagged panel model was used to examine the predictive role of online social comparison to ameliorate individual distress during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings of the first study showed that online social comparison predicted an increase in individuals’ levels of anxiety, stress, loneliness and life satisfaction over time. In the second study, Latent Class Analysis was adopted to classify participants into three groups with different levels of problematic Facebook use. Findings from this study showed that online social comparison was linked to passive use of social media and the fear of missing out. Moreover, longitudinal analyses showed that problematic Facebook users reported greater levels of psychological distress and lower levels of well-being at each time point. Finally, in the third study, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to examine the association between online social comparison and body image outcomes. Results from 57 cross-sectional studies showed that online social comparison was linked to body image concerns, eating disorder behaviours and positive body image, demonstrating the importance of the physical appearance comparison in the online contexts. Overall, these results highlight the multifaceted nature of the social comparison construct, which can play a different role in predicting psychological well-being in specific contexts.Social comparison is the practice through which people compare their own opinions, abilities, behaviours, and emotions with those of others as an external guide and a source for self-evaluation. Social comparison has been put forward as a core feature of interpersonal relationships both in the offline context and in virtual interactions through social media. A growing number of studies has highlighted that online social comparison through social media can influence individuals’ everyday life. In this thesis, I will examine the role of online social comparison in influencing individuals’ well-being in three research designs with different outcomes. In the first empirical study, a cross-lagged panel model was used to examine the predictive role of online social comparison to ameliorate individual distress during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings of the first study showed that online social comparison predicted an increase in individuals’ levels of anxiety, stress, loneliness and life satisfaction over time. In the second study, Latent Class Analysis was adopted to classify participants into three groups with different levels of problematic Facebook use. Findings from this study showed that online social comparison was linked to passive use of social media and the fear of missing out. Moreover, longitudinal analyses showed that problematic Facebook users reported greater levels of psychological distress and lower levels of well-being at each time point. Finally, in the third study, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to examine the association between online social comparison and body image outcomes. Results from 57 cross-sectional studies showed that online social comparison was linked to body image concerns, eating disorder behaviours and positive body image, demonstrating the importance of the physical appearance comparison in the online contexts. Overall, these results highlight the multifaceted nature of the social comparison construct, which can play a different role in predicting psychological well-being in specific contexts

Social Media, Thin-Ideal, Body Dissatisfaction and Disordered Eating Attitudes: An Exploratory Analysis

Disordered eating attitudes are rapidly increasing, especially among young women in their twenties. These disordered behaviours result from the interaction of several factors, including beauty ideals. A significant factor is social media, by which the unrealistic beauty ideals are popularized and may lead to these behaviours. The objectives of this study were, first, to determine the relationship between disordered eating behaviours among female university students and sociocultural factors, such as the use of social network sites, beauty ideals, body satisfaction, body image and the body image desired to achieve and, second, to determine whether there is a sensitive relationship between disordered eating attitudes, addiction to social networks, and testosterone levels as a biological factor. The data (N = 168) was obtained using validated surveys (EAT-26, BSQ, CIPE-a, SNSA) and indirect measures of prenatal testosterone. The data was analysed using chi-square, Student’s t-test, correlation tests and logistic regression tests. The results showed that disordered eating attitudes were linked to self-esteem (p < 0.001), body image (p < 0.001), body desired to achieve (p < 0.001), the use of social media (p < 0.001) and prenatal testosterone (p < 0.01). The findings presented in this study suggest a relationship between body image, body concerns, body dissatisfaction, and disordered eating attitudes among college women

Psychology and Social Media

Social media is extremely successful in today’s world. This can be explained using psychology. This paper outlines three perspectives of social media use and the various psychological concepts that explain them: the Poster, the Viewer, and the Connector. The Poster creates and uploads content to social media in hopes of the feedback given by those who see it. This can lead to addiction and provides social approval. Many Posters also engage in a false identity to some extent. The Viewer utilizes social media for many reasons, all of which fall under four categories: education, inspiration, entertainment, and socialization. They are also susceptible to addiction and parasocial relationships. The final category, the Connector, involves those who utilize messaging on social media as well as dating apps

“It’s cool to feel sad”: A thematic analysis of the social media experiences of university students who have self-harmed

Background: Suicide and self-harm rates amongst young people have been identified as a public mental health concern with emerging links to social media use. Aim: The current study aimed to qualitatively explore the social media experiences of university students who have self-harmed, as they have been identified as a group vulnerable to suicide. Method: Semi-structured interviews were completed at two time points with students aged 21 and under who have self-harmed whilst at university, with transcripts of interviews analysed using reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2021). Results: Three organising themes were identified: 1) Instagram vs reality, 2) A double-edged sword, 3) Curating online spaces. The analysis provided a developmental overview of patterns across students’ experiences online, identifying negative social comparisons, the romanticisation of mental illness, and the development of their insight and rules to engage with social media in a helpful way. Conclusions: The study provided an insight into the evolution of the online lives of students who have self-harmed, highlighting key modifiable risk factors that researchers, policymakers and clinicians could meaningfully target to promote ‘digital hygiene’ and the reduction of potential harm from social media

The American Academy of Health Behavior 2018 Annual Scientific Meeting: An Equity Approach to Health Behavior Innovations

The American Academy of Health Behavior (AAHB) hosted its 18th Annual Scientific Meeting at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in historic downtown Portland, OR March 4-7, 2018. The meeting’s theme was “An Equity Approach to Health Behavior Innovations.” This publication describes the meeting theme and includes the refereed abstracts presented at the 2018 Annual Scientific Meeting

Social Media Usage and Psychological Well-Being in Adolescents: A Comparison Among Demographics

The purpose of this study was to examine social media use of adolescents in the U.S. and their psychological well-being to expand the research of this quickly changing topic. The researcher collected online responses from 409 adolescents between the ages of 13-17 years old concerning their social media use and psychological well-being. Variables in the research included time spent on social media, number of platforms used, active use, parental mediation, and emotional connection. The two variables that had a statistically significant relationship with psychological well-being included parental mediation and emotional connection to social media. Recommendations for continued research could include examination of the parent-adolescent relationship, parenting styles, and a dyadic survey to study both parents’ and adolescents’ perceptions of screen time use and psychological well-being. This research contributes recommendations for practice to Extension professionals and mental health professionals to assist parents and caregivers to navigate norms and provide a framework for more parental mediation concerning their adolescent’s social media use

Self-Compassion, Body Image Dissatisfaction, and Negative Social Comparisons in Adolescents Utilizing Social Networking Sites

This quantitative survey study implemented a cross-sectional, correlational design. The present study explored the relationship between self-compassion, body image, and negative social comparisons in a sample consisting of adolescents who use social networking sites. Despite noteworthy limitations, this study elucidates the benefits associated with higher levels of self-compassion in adolescence. In line with previous studies, adolescents reported frequent use of social networking sites, primarily facilitated by smartphones. Although the constant accessibility of social networking sites via smartphones has been associated with negative outcomes, an important finding in this study was the lack of significant relationship between overall time spent on social networking sites, lower levels of self-compassion, negative social comparisons, and negative body image. Nevertheless, a significant relationship was found between negative body image and belonging to more than three social networking sites. These findings highlight the necessity of future research studies which investigate the differential impact of various social networking sites, how certain online behaviors may predispose adolescents to diminished overall psychological well-being, and the influence of preexisting psychopathology. Lastly, preventative measures, such as treatment programs that enhance self-compassion and media literacy campaigns, are suggested to buffer adolescents against the negative consequences associated with maladaptive social networking site

The Relationship between Young Adult Attachment and Loneliness Factors with Their Childhood Social Media Usage Patterns

Social media use has become an integral and often ignored part of children’s lives because it is rationalized not to be detrimental to their future development. However, childhood social media use was associated with insecure attachment styles and possible loneliness issues emerging in young adulthood. Past research examined social media use and secular attachment in the present only, without examining spiritual attachment or loneliness levels. This is the first research study to explore longitudinally the relationship between past childhood social media use and current young adult (aged 18-24) secular attachment, spiritual attachment, and loneliness levels. The population (N = 149) aged 18-24 took a demographic survey and four online surveys that measured past childhood social media use, current secular attachment, current spiritual attachment, and current loneliness. ANOVAs analyzed the variable relationships divided up at 33% cutoff scores to create Low, Moderate, and High levels. It was hypothesized as childhood social media use levels increased then insecure spiritual attachment, insecure secular attachment, and loneliness levels would increase. It was hypothesized as insecure attachment in one variable increased then increased insecure attachment in the other relationship variable and in loneliness would relate. It was discovered as Childhood Social Media Use increased then Anxious Attachment to God and Total Insecure Attachment to God both increased, and as Total Insecure Attachment to God increased then insecure secular attachment levels and loneliness levels increased. It is suggested interventions to limit childhood social media use be implemented to avoid the downward spiral of detrimental impacts on their social, spiritual, and internal relationships when they become adults

Tracing Relations Between Attachment, Social Media Use, Self-Esteem, Loneliness, and Depression: A Mediation Model

An extensive amount of correlational research has well-established the link between insecure attachment style and subsequent adverse interpersonal and psychopathological outcomes. Moreover, the rise of social media has precipitated a shift in the methods by which individuals communicate; consequently, this has resulted in the shifting of preexisting dispositions toward dysfunctional behaviors to a more ubiquitous route of manifestation. Given that attachment literature has indicated notable differences in both underlying mechanisms and resulting outcomes of both avoidant and anxious attachment, examination of this alongside social media use provides valuable insight into potential relationships between the two. Further, research has examined the implications of each of these constructs in relation to self-esteem and loneliness; however, despite the extensive research, there remains a lack of consensus on the positive or negative implications of these interactions. Accordingly, much of the previous literature has neglected to examine the potential psychopathological implications following the combination of each of these constructs. A series of regression analyses revealed significant indirect effects between attachment style and depression. Results indicated a significant positive relationship between best friend attachment anxiety and social media usage; further examination revealed notable significant mediating roles of both self-esteem and loneliness in the indirect relationship between insecure attachment style and depression. Collectively, these findings not only extend research’s understanding of the complex dynamics amongst these variables, but it also advocates the value of further research into attachment style-specific outcomes