Tinder use, gender, and the psychosocial functioning of young adults

Tinder is a mobile dating app where users evaluate possible matches based primarily on posted photos; limited content is provided as to who each user is. Thus, appearance becomes paramount in users’ decisions about who to swipe left (i.e., reject) or swipe right (i.e., approve). As such, and consistent with objectification theory, men and women who use this mobile app are treated as objects that are viewed, rated, used, and, in many instances, disposed of. Therefore, in a sample 18-34-year-old men (n=187) and women (n=547), we examined Tinder use and gender in relation to internalization, physical appearance comparison, body satisfaction, self-esteem, perceived sociocultural pressures, depression, negative mood, body surveillance, body shame, body appreciation, and dietary intent. A series of MANCOVAs were used to examine the relation of gender and Tinder use to the outcomes. Regardless of gender, Tinder use (vs. nonuse) was associated with more distress across a range of measures, including sociocultural pressures, internalization of appearance ideals, body image concerns, and negative affect. Tinder use, however, was not related to psychological well-being or eating pathology. These findings extend previous studies and affirm the potentially deleterious environment that exists for Tinder users

WHICH ARE THE EFFECTS OF BODY-OBJECTIFICATION AND INSTAGRAM-RELATED PRACTICES ON MALE BODY ESTEEM? A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Objective: According to the objectification framework, media pressure toward body models promotes the internalization of beauty ideals that negatively influence individuals’ body image and self-esteem. Historically, women have been the main target of sociocultural pressures. However, research has recently suggested that self-objectification is a male phenomenon as well, which can be inscribed in men’s body experiences. Nevertheless, fewer studies have specifically focused on the male experience and general consequences of body-objectification are yet to be extensively analyzed regarding males’ body image features. The current cross-sectional study explores the consequences of body-objectification on male body esteem, specifically testing the predictive role of exercising/dietary habits, body-objectification features, and SNS-related practices on male body esteem. Method: A total of 238 male participants (mean age = 24.28 years, SD = 4.32) have been involved in an online survey. Three hierarchical analyses were performed to test the influence of objectified body consciousness and social networking-related experiences (i.e. Instagram intensity use, photo manipulation, selfie feedback investment) on young men’s body esteem with specific reference to the weight, appearance, and attribution features of the Body Esteem Scale. Results: Findings highlighted that body shame played an interesting key role, influencing negatively all the body esteem dimensions, thus highlighting that attention needs to be deserved on this feature of OBC regarding males’ experience. On the contrary, appearance control-related dimensions positively influenced body esteem. Overall, findings confirmed that objectification theory can adequately mark a pathway by which media imagery is internalized also by men and may negatively affect their body esteem. Conclusions: Despite some limitations, this study may contribute to enlarging our knowledge on male body image and self-objectification experience and support literature shattering the stereotype that body dissatisfaction is a “female-exclusive” issue. Likewise, beyond some questioning positions, these findings also encourage further exploration of a healthier “control dimension”, including body appearance related activities and beliefs

The Relationship among Social Media, Interpersonal Relationships, and Self-Conscious Emotions

This study examined the relationship among social media, interpersonal relationships, and self-conscious emotions. Participants responded to surveys that were distributed on Facebook and through email. The participants varied in age, gender, and ethnicity. Each participant responded to a four-part online survey. The survey contained the following scales: TOSCA (assesses the self-conscious emotions of shame and guilt-proneness), Social Media Use (measures the usage of social media of the individual), and Dispositional Authenticity and Relationship Authenticity (measures interpersonal relationship). These three variables were analyzed quantitatively and compared to find significant negative correlations

The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health of Adolescents: A Research Proposal

As social media use becomes more prevalent for teenagers and late adolescents alike, researchers continue to analyze its associations with mental health and social connectedness. Most studies in this area take a correlational, self-report approach. However, correlational, self-report research neglects to assess cause-and-effect relationships, thus rendering it difficult to ascertain whether social media use causes changes in users’ well-being or if social media users already differ on certain variables prior to their use. After analyzing previous studies, this paper discusses their limitations and proposes future research to assess the potential causal relationship of social media use with mental health. The proposal addresses gaps in the literature by calling for experimental research on adolescents’ social media use

Impact of Social Media on Mental Health: A Look At Cohort Differences

Based on the amount of published research projects, interest continues to grow regarding the impact social media has on mental health. Yet with this increasing interest, research on the relationship between social media and mental health has not been fully explored across multiple age populations. Social media’s impact on mental health has been primarily examined among young adults, typically between the ages of 18-23; however, it has not been widely studied among age groups beyond the emerging adult. To identify how social media impacts the mental health of individuals on a broader age range, the current study considered two age cohorts, the Millennial Generation (born between 1981-1995) and Generation Z (born between 1996-2012), and compared differences and similarities between these age groups. Specific social media platform use and mental health conditions were measured with an overall goal of a more comprehensive view of social media type (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) and use on self-reported levels of depression, anxiety, stress, and self-esteem. The preliminary findings indicate that individuals who are categorized as part of Generation Z report a more negative impact on mental health as influenced by the use of any of the three prominent forms of social media considered

Enjoyment of Sexualization is Associated with Alcohol Use, Self-Objectification is Not

The main purpose of this study was to determine how the enjoyment of sexualization impacts the relationship between self-objectification and alcohol use. Alcohol use is prevalent within college communities and may lead to damaging experiences. Participants were 892 undergraduate women who completed an online questionnaire including measurements of self-objectification, enjoyment of sexualization, as well as an alcohol survey. A general linear model was used to analyze these relationships and interactions. Data analysis showed that while enjoyment of sexualization was associated positively with alcohol use, self-objectification was not, and there was no significant interaction between the two variables. This provides evidence that enjoyment of sexualization is a more significant potential risk factor for drinking behavior than self-objectification. This understanding may lead to the reduction of alcohol consumption risk factors in women through therapies aimed at decreasing enjoyment of sexualization

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

The use of social networking sites, body image dissatisfaction and Body Dysmorphic Disorder: a systematic review of psychological research

The escalation of social networking site (SNS) usage has led to much research examining both the positive and negative implications SNS can have on well-being. However, whilst many studies have investigated the relationship between SNS usage and body image, there remains a paucity of research in regards to SNS usage and Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). A systematic search was undertaken using Web of Science, PsychInfo and PubMed databases to identify SNS usage and patterns, SNS features and mediating factors contributing towards body image dissatisfaction, resulting in 40 studies meeting specific inclusion criteria. Findings identified passive SNS use and appearance-focused SNS use as particularly influential. Appearance-based comparisons were also found to be a strong mediator between SNS use and body image dissatisfaction. Using the current knowledge, parallels were highlighted in terms of body image dissatisfaction and BDD symptomatology, suggesting frequent SNS usage as a potential risk factor in the development of BDD symptoms