Gender differences in adolescent sport participation, teasing, self-objectification and body image concerns

With the visual turn in online communication, selfies have become common on social media. Although selfies as a way of self-representation provide people with more chances to express themselves, the adverse effects selfies could bring to users’ body image need to be treated seriously. This study tested whether selfie-viewing behaviour on social media was related to facial dissatisfaction and whether appearance comparisons played a mediating role. Moreover, the self-objectification was examined as a moderator between selfie-viewing behaviour and facial dissatisfaction via appearance comparisons. Results showed that more selfie-viewing was associated with higher facial dissatisfaction, and this relationship was mediated by appearance comparisons. The study also found that self-objectification moderated the indirect relation between selfie-viewing and facial dissatisfaction via appearance comparisons. Gender differences were also found to affect the mediation model. Our research provides new insights into the interactions between social media use and perception of body image.

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The dark triad, trait-based self-objectification, and body image concerns in young women

Personality and Individual Differences ◽

10.1016/j.paid.2019.03.015 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 145 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Charlotte Dryden ◽

Joel Anderson

Keyword(s):

Body Image ◽

Young Women ◽

Dark Triad ◽

Body Image Concerns ◽

Self Objectification

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Links Between Exposure to Sexualized Instagram Images and Body Image Concerns in Girls and Boys

Journal of Media Psychology Theories Methods and Applications ◽

10.1027/1864-1105/a000296 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Marika Skowronski ◽

Robert Busching ◽

Barbara Krahé

Keyword(s):

Body Image ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Body Surveillance ◽

Step Process ◽

Thin Ideal Internalization ◽

Step Model ◽

Body Image Concerns ◽

Muscular Ideal ◽

Self Objectification

Abstract. The current study examined the links between viewing female and male sexualized Instagram images (SII) and body image concerns within the three-step process of self-objectification among adolescents aged 13–18 years from Germany ( N = 300, 61% female). Participants completed measures of SII use, thin- and muscular-ideal internalization, valuing appearance over competence, and body surveillance. Structural equation modeling revealed that SII use was associated with body image concerns for boys and girls via different routes. Specifically, female SII use was indirectly associated with higher body surveillance via thin-ideal internalization and subsequent valuing appearance over competence for girls. For both girls and boys, male SII use was indirectly linked to higher body surveillance via muscular-ideal internalization. Implications for the three-step model of self-objectification by sexualized social media are discussed.

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Instagram use and young women’s body image concerns and self-objectification: Testing mediational pathways

New Media & Society ◽

10.1177/1461444817694499 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 20 (4) ◽

pp. 1380-1395 ◽

Cited By ~ 67

Author(s):

Jasmine Fardouly ◽

Brydie K Willburger ◽

Lenny R Vartanian

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Body Image ◽

The United States ◽

Target Groups ◽

Women's Body Image ◽

Body Image Concerns ◽

Appearance Comparison ◽

Self Objectification ◽

The Relationship ◽

Women's Appearance

This study examined the relationship between Instagram use (overall, as well as specifically viewing fitspiration images) and body image concerns and self-objectification among women between the ages of 18 and 25 from the United States ( n = 203) and from Australia ( n = 73). Furthermore, this study tested whether internalization of the societal beauty ideal, appearance comparison tendency in general, or appearance comparisons to specific target groups on Instagram mediated any relationships between Instagram use and the appearance-related variables. Greater overall Instagram use was associated with greater self-objectification, and that relationship was mediated both by internalization and by appearance comparisons to celebrities. More frequently viewing fitspiration images on Instagram was associated with greater body image concerns, and that relationship was mediated by internalization, appearance comparison tendency in general, and appearance comparisons to women in fitspiration images. Together, these results suggest that Instagram usage may negatively influence women’s appearance-related concerns and beliefs.

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