Adolescent girls’ Instagram and TikTok use: Examining relations with body image-related constructs over time using random intercept cross-lagged panel models
Open accessAbstract
The literature on body image ramifications of girls' uses of appearance-focused social media (ASM) is limited, and even non-existing in terms of TikTok uses. With this brief report, we aimed to fill this gap in the literature by analyzing three waves of data on girls' ASM use and body image-related constructs (i.e., internalization of beauty ideals and body image self-discrepancy) using random-intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPMs). The total sample consisted of 229 girls (M age = 15.12, SD = 1.50). Controlling for age and body mass index (BMI), the RI-CLPMs revealed that neither TikTok nor Instagram were predictive of subsequent increases or decreases in internalization of beauty ideals and body image self-discrepancy. Lower scores on body image self-discrepancy at W2 (i.e., wanting to have a thinner body) did predict higher uses of Instagram at W3. No evidence for between-person effects was garnered. The results enrich our knowledge on long-term implications of girls' Instagram and TikTok use for their body image. They further underline the need for research that more specifically disentangles the role of different appearance-related activities on social media and their impact on girls' body image constructs.
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Six studies used only standardized tests in their original or adapted form.
“Six studies used only standardized tests (in their original or adapted form) [73, 78, 79, 83–85]”
From Scrolling through adolescence: a systematic review of the impact of TikTok on adolescent mental health (2025) · cites this paper as [73]
Four of the included studies assessed wellbeing indicators, like creativity, innovation, life satisfaction, and health habits, while sixteen assessed mental disorder indicators such as depression, anxiety, stress or body image issues.
“Four of the studies [68, 75, 79, 80] assessed wellbeing indicators, like creativity, innovation, life satisfaction, and health habits, while sixteen assessed mental disorder indicators such as depression, anxiety, stress or body image issues [42, 67, 68, 70–73, 76–79, 81–85].”
From Scrolling through adolescence: a systematic review of the impact of TikTok on adolescent mental health (2025) · cites this paper as [73]
One study did not report exact time spent on TikTok but referred to stability of use over a 9-month period.
“One study [73] did not report the exact time spent on TikTok but referred to the stability of use over a 9-month period.”
From Scrolling through adolescence: a systematic review of the impact of TikTok on adolescent mental health (2025) · cites this paper as [73]
Time spent on TikTok has not been clearly linked to a higher likelihood of eating disorders and body dissatisfaction.
“While time spent on TikTok has not been clearly linked to an higher likelihood of eating disorders and body dissatisfaction [73, 81]”
From Scrolling through adolescence: a systematic review of the impact of TikTok on adolescent mental health (2025) · cites this paper as [73]
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- Authors
- Maes, C., & Vandenbosch, L.
- Affiliations
- KU Leuven (BE)
- Corresponding author
- Maes, Chelly
- Venue
- Body Image
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2022-06
- Volume
- 41
- Pages
- 453-459
- ISSN
- 1740-1445 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4280535131
- Cited by
- 55
- References
- 26
- Citations by year
- 2026: 14 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 6
- FWCI
- 9.38
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- lirias.kuleuven.be
- Licence
- Locations
- Body Image (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Dépôt institutionnel de l'Université libre de Bruxelles (Université Libre de Bruxelles) (submittedVersion)
- Lirias (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- 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
- adolescent girls, Instagram, TikTok, thin-ideal internalization, social media use, longitudinal change
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adolescent Behavior, Beauty, Body Image, Female, Humans, Body Mass Index, Social Media
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