The relationship between Instagram selfies and body image in young adult women

Abstract

This study observed the relations between actual body size, body dissatisfaction, frequency of selfies taken, and number of Instagram selfies posted. Results indicated that actual body size was positively related to body dissatisfaction, and negatively related to the number of selfies taken. Results also revealed a positive relationship between body dissatisfaction and selfies taken. Conversely, no correlations were detected between the frequency of selfies posted to Instagram and either actual body size or body image dissatisfaction.

Social media, body image and food choices in healthy young adults: A mixed methods systematic review

“…Quantitative studies primarily recruited participants from university cohorts (n = 23), of which three were psychology cohorts with the majority based in the USA, followed by Australia . Three studies recruited participants in community settings (n = 3) .…”

“…Where ethnicity was reported in studies (n = 23), participants were mostly Caucasian . Of the 12 studies that reported BMI, participants had a mean range between 20.26 and 28.24 kg/m 2 . A variety of tools to measure BI and eating behaviour were used, with little overlap between the studies (Appendix S3).…”

“…The following sections report findings from included studies. Eight studies reported the impact of SM engagement on BI and food choice (n = 8); 10 studies reported the impact of exposure to image‐related content on BI and food choice (n = 10); and eight studies reported the impact of both SM engagement and exposure to image related content on BI and food choice outcomes (n = 8) …”

“…Associations between exposure to image‐related content and BI and food choice (n = 4) outcomes were measured in 42% of studies. Instagram (n = 5), followed by Facebook (n = 3) were the most commonly investigated platforms.…”

Low Self-Esteem and Selfie Posting Among Young Women

“…Indeed, selfies typically focus on users' physical appearance and women of Western culture have internalized the culturally dominant ideals of attractiveness and self-evaluation based on aesthetic appearance. Scholars [21] argued that women living in sociocultural environments that insistently and pervasively engender pressure for the "ideal" physical appearance are more likely to engage in behaviours of image impression management, such as selfies, that confirm the sense of connection between their physical bodies and their sense of self-worth. Furthermore, the global economic crisis that began in 2008, whose effects are still ongoing in some countries like Italy, may have a very important impact on people's values, self-confidence and self-esteem.…”