The impact of COVID-19 lockdown on social network sites use, body image disturbances and self-esteem among adolescent and young women
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on social network sites (SNS) use and to explore whether SNS use is associated with body image disturbances and low self-esteem. METHODS: A total of 2601 women living in Spain aged 14-35 years completed questionnaire measures of SNS use, self-esteem, body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness. In the survey, participants were asked about their use of SNS at the moment of answering the survey and before lockdown. RESULTS: A statistically significant increase was found in the frequency of use of all studied SNS (Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Twitter and Facebook) during lockdown, as well as in the number of women following appearance-focused Instagram accounts. Moreover, significant relationships were found between the frequency of Instagram use and body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness and low self-esteem in the younger age group (14-24), and between the frequency of Instagram use and drive for thinness in the older age group (25-35). Following appearance-focused accounts on Instagram was related to body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness in the younger group, and only to drive for thinness in the older group (25-35). Following appearance-focused accounts on Instagram and a higher frequency of use of Instagram significantly predicted higher levels of drive for thinness. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that lockdown has had an impact on SNS use, and this might be linked to increased drive for thinness and eating disorder risk among adolescent and young women.
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High frequency of social media usage and body image dissatisfaction was supported by two studies.
“High frequency of social media usage and body image dissatisfaction was supported by two studies [54, 55].”
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 [55]
The Abstract Results report a significant relationship between frequency of Instagram use and body dissatisfaction among participants aged 14–24. The claim says social media usage generally, but the reported body-dissatisfaction relationship is specific to Instagram and that younger age group; the older group showed a relationship with drive for thinness instead. (LLM, conf=0.83)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredAlthough the social media platforms covered in the literature were extensive, the digital landscape evolves rapidly; TikTok is only mentioned by one study.
“Next, although the social media platforms covered in the literature were extensive, the digital landscape evolves rapidly. For example, TikTok (the most downloaded mobile application in 2020) is the focus of significant media concerns regarding body image yet is only mentioned by one study [55].”
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 [55]
Social media use increased during the Covid-19 pandemic, including usage of a variety of social media platforms (e.g., Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok).
“In general, studies reported that social media use increased during the Covid-19 pandemic (36, 47, 56, 60, 62), including the usage of a variety of social media platforms (e.g., Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok).”
From Digital Media Use and Adolescents' Mental Health During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (2022) · cites this paper as [47]
Use of Instagram, especially following appearance-focused accounts, was related to higher body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness, and lower self-esteem in female adolescents, with small effect sizes.
“Furthermore, the use of Instagram and, in particular, following appearance-focused accounts was related to higher body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness and lower self-esteem in female adolescents. However, the effect sizes were small (47).”
From Digital Media Use and Adolescents' Mental Health During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (2022) · cites this paper as [47]
Passive and compensatory social media use led to increased ill-being, including feelings of depression, anxiety, loneliness, and low self-esteem due to social comparison as well as body-related concerns.
“However, as reported by previous literature reviews, passive and compensatory social media use led to increased ill-being (59), including feelings of depression, anxiety, loneliness, and low self-esteem due to social comparison as well as body-related concerns (47).”
From Digital Media Use and Adolescents' Mental Health During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (2022) · cites this paper as [47]
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References 43 · Cited by 208
- Authors
- Vall-Roqué, H., Andrés, A., & Saldaña, C.
- Affiliations
- Fundació Blanquerna (ES)
- Universitat de Barcelona (ES)
- Venue
- Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2021-08
- Volume
- 110
- Pages
- 110293
- ISSN
- 0278-5846 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC8569938
- OpenAlex
- W3107329786
- Cited by
- 208
- References
- 43
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 25 · 2024: 54 · 2023: 56 · 2022: 48 · 2021: 16
- FWCI
- 29.65
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Research Square (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Dipòsit Digital de la Universitat de Barcelona (Universitat de Barcelona) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- 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
- COVID-19 lockdown, social network sites, Instagram, body image disturbance, body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness, self-esteem, adolescent women, young women, eating disorder risk, social media use
- MeSH terms
- COVID-19, Adolescent, Adult, Communicable Disease Control, Female, Humans, Surveys and Questionnaires, Self Concept, Spain, Young Adult, Body Dysmorphic Disorders, Social Media
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