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Cited by 215Eating Disorders and BehaviorsBody Image and Dysmorphia StudiesImpact of Technology on Adolescents

Social media, body satisfaction and well-being among adolescents: A mediation model of appearance-ideal internalization and comparison.

Open access
Jarman, Hannah K., Marques, Mathew D., McLean, Siân A., Slater, Amy, Paxton, Susan J.·2021·Body Image
DOI 10.1016/j.bodyim.2020.11.005
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Abstract

Despite adolescents' prolific use of social media, relationships between social media and body satisfaction and well-being are not yet well understood, especially among boys. This study tested a sociocultural model of body image within the context of social media among adolescent boys and girls. Specifically, this study examined whether appearance-ideal internalization and social appearance comparisons mediated relationships between social media engagement (intensity and appearance-focused use) and body satisfaction and subjective well-being. Australian adolescents between 11 and 17 years (N = 1,579, M age = 13.45 years, SD = 1.15; 55.4 % boys) completed an online survey. Structural equational modelling indicated that only higher appearance-focused social media use was directly associated with lower body satisfaction and well-being. Generally, higher appearance-ideal internalization and comparisons mediated the relationships between higher social media engagement and lower body satisfaction and well-being. Multi-group analyses indicated these relationships were equivalent across gender. Findings supported the proposed model among boys and girls and extend existing theoretical knowledge to encompass male body image and well-being. Interventions which target internalization and comparisons in the context of social media are likely to be valuable in improving body satisfaction and subjective well-being in co-educational settings.

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  • Boys endorsed a more muscular ideal, with goals of functionality and fitness, rather than weight loss.

    “In contrast, boys endorsed a more muscular ideal, with goals of functionality and fitness, rather than weight loss [76, 77].”

    From The social media diet: A scoping review to investigate the association between social media, body image and eating disorders amongst young people (2023) · cites this paper as [76]

    The Discussion (p. unavailable) suggests that social media may reinforce muscular ideals among boys more than girls, but cautions that the relevant gender difference did not survive adjustment for multiple tests. The paper does not establish that boys’ goals were functionality and fitness rather than weight loss; its background section also identifies both thinness and muscularity as relevant to boys. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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  • Among Australian adolescents, both social comparison and appearance-ideal internalization mediated the association between higher social media engagement and lower body satisfaction and well-being.

    “Additionally, among Australian adolescents, both social comparison and appearance-ideal internalization mediated the association between higher SM engagement and lower body satisfaction and well-being (Jarman et al., 2021).”

    From The Perfect Storm: A Developmental-Sociocultural Framework for the Role of Social Media in Adolescent Girls' Body Image Concerns and Mental Health. (2022) · cites this paper as Jarman et al., 2021

  • Although the association between social media use and appearance concerns may be similar for boys and girls, the majority of studies find that girls report higher appearance investment and concerns generally and higher depressive symptoms related to social media use, suggesting that gender differences may predispose girls to both.

    “Although the association between SM use and appearance concerns may be similar for boys and girls (Fardouly & Vartanian, 2016; Holland & Tiggemann, 2016; Jarman et al., 2021), the majority of studies do find that girls report higher appearance investment and concerns generally (e.g., Choukas-Bradley et al., 2020; Hawes et al., 2020) and higher depressive symptoms related to SM use (e.g.,”

    From The Perfect Storm: A Developmental-Sociocultural Framework for the Role of Social Media in Adolescent Girls' Body Image Concerns and Mental Health. (2022) · cites this paper as Jarman et al., 2021

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  1. Muthén, L. K., & Muthén, B. O. (2017). Mplus user's guide (8 ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Muthén & Muthén.

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Authors
Jarman, H. K., Marques, M. D., McLean, S. A., Slater, A., & Paxton, S. J.
Affiliations
  • La Trobe University (AU)
  • University of the West of England (GB)
Corresponding author
Jarman, Hannah K.
ORCID
Venue
Body Image
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2021-03
Volume
36
Pages
139-148
ISSN
1740-1445 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.bodyim.2020.11.005
OpenAlex
W3109038096
Cited by
214
References
80
Citations by year
2026: 37 · 2025: 54 · 2024: 47 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 34 · 2021: 16
FWCI
7.61
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Body Image (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UWE Research Repository (UWE Bristol) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • La Trobe University
Funders
Australian Research Council
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
Keywords
social media use, body satisfaction, subjective well-being, adolescent boys, adolescent girls, gender differences
MeSH terms
Adolescent Health, Social Comparison, Adolescent, Australia, Body Image, Child, Defense Mechanisms, Female, Humans, Male, Models, Psychological, Personal Satisfaction, Surveys and Questionnaires, Social Media

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