Direct and indirect relationships between social media use and body satisfaction A prospective study among adolescent boys and girls
Open accessAbstract
Cross-sectional research suggests a small, inverse association between social media use and body satisfaction. However, less is known regarding prospective, bidirectional, or mediating effects. In line with sociocultural theory, this study used a three-wave design to examine direct and indirect effects between social media use and body satisfaction, via thin-ideal and muscular-ideal internalisation and social comparisons. Adolescents (N = 1,911; Mage = 14.27, SD = 1.08) were invited to complete three surveys over 1-year. Cross-lagged panel models indicated acceptable fit for two social media use operationalisations, with better fit statistics for the appearance-focused use rather than photo-based activities model. Despite largely no direct effects, indirect effects were found. Social comparisons mediated the relationships over time, whereby higher social media use predicted higher comparisons, which predicted lower body satisfaction. The reverse direction was also found. Gender invariance indicates that prevention aimed at reducing comparisons may be suitable for boys and girls.
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Another study of adolescent boys and girls found that social media intensity was associated with body dissatisfaction via thin and muscular ideal internalization and social comparison.
“Another study of adolescent boys and girls found that social media intensity, or the degree of importance adolescents placed on social media, was associated with body dissatisfaction via thin and muscular ideal internalization and social comparison (Jarman, Marques, et al., 2021).”
From Incorporating social media and muscular ideal internalization into the tripartite influence model of body image: Towards a modern understanding of adolescent girls’ body dissatisfaction (2022) · cites this paper as Jarman, Marques, et al., 2021
A recent longitudinal study with adolescents found higher social media use predicted higher social comparison over time, and in turn, lower body satisfaction.
“Similar results were found in a recent longitudinal study with adolescents, such that higher social media use predicted higher social comparison over time, and in turn, lower body satisfaction (Jarman, McLean, et al., 2021).”
From Incorporating social media and muscular ideal internalization into the tripartite influence model of body image: Towards a modern understanding of adolescent girls’ body dissatisfaction (2022) · cites this paper as Jarman, McLean, et al., 2021
Engaging with photos on social media may promote internalization of unrealistically thin body ideals, resulting in worsened body image.
“Research suggests that engaging with photos on social media may promote internalization of unrealistically thin body ideals, resulting in worsened body image (Jarman, Marques, et al., 2021).”
From Incorporating social media and muscular ideal internalization into the tripartite influence model of body image: Towards a modern understanding of adolescent girls’ body dissatisfaction (2022) · cites this paper as Jarman, Marques, et al., 2021
The current results are aligned with prior work demonstrating that social appearance comparisons mediate the association between social media use and body dissatisfaction.
“Furthermore, the current results are aligned with prior work demonstrating that social appearance comparisons mediate the association between social media use and body dissatisfaction (e.g., Chang et al., 2019;Jarman, Marques, et al., 2021;Scully et al., 2020).”
From Incorporating social media and muscular ideal internalization into the tripartite influence model of body image: Towards a modern understanding of adolescent girls’ body dissatisfaction (2022) · cites this paper as Jarman, Marques, et al., 2021
Initial work with Australian adolescents suggests that, over time, social media use predicts lower body satisfaction via social comparison, but not thin ideal or muscular ideal internalization.
“Indeed, initial work with Australian adolescents suggests that, over time, social media use predicts lower body satisfaction via social comparison, but not thin ideal or muscular ideal internalization (Jarman, McLean, et al., 2021).”
From Incorporating social media and muscular ideal internalization into the tripartite influence model of body image: Towards a modern understanding of adolescent girls’ body dissatisfaction (2022) · cites this paper as Jarman, McLean, et al., 2021
Longitudinal evidence suggests indirect effects from social media use to body dissatisfaction through appearance comparisons.
“as well as the existence of indirect effects through appearance comparisons [34,35].”
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Khalil, A., Qaiser, M., Anjum, A., & Mustafa, R. (2024) · Journal of Management Info · doi:10.31580/jmi.v9i4.2751 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Alghamdi, A. M., Alzahrani, M. A., Alomari, R. A., Alghamdi, S. A., Alzahrani, R. A., Alzahrani Faisal Lafi, B., Alghamdi, H. M., Osman, N. M., & Almawazini, A. M. (2026) · doi:10.2196/preprints.93736
- Authors
- Jarman, H., McLean, S. A., Slater, A., Marques, M. D., & Paxton, S. J.
- Publisher
- Center for Open Science
- Published
- 2021-10-22
- OpenAlex
- W4256191624
- Cited by
- 10
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1
- Type
- posted content
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- doi.org
- Locations
- OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies
- Keywords
- social media use, body satisfaction, adolescents, social comparison, thin-ideal internalization, sociocultural theory, gender invariance, body image
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