A Biopsychosocial Model of Social Media Use and Body Image Concerns, Disordered Eating, and Muscle-Building Behaviors among Adolescent Girls and Boys

Study Overview

  • Journal: Journal of Youth and Adolescence (2020)

  • Authors: Rachel F. Rodgers, Amy Slater, Chloe S. Gordon, Siân A. McLean, Hannah K. Jarman, Susan J. Paxton

  • Study Objective: Examine the relationship between social media use and body image concerns, disordered eating, and muscle-building behaviors among adolescents using a biopsychosocial model.

Abstract

  • Sample Size: 681 adolescents (49% female, mean age = 12.76 years)

  • Methodology: Questionnaire assessing social media use, body dissatisfaction, eating behaviors, etc.

  • Findings: Good fit of the modified model to the data, indicating gender differences exist; biopsychosocial frameworks help in understanding these relationships.

  • Keywords: Biopsychosocial model, body image, disordered eating, adolescents.

Introduction

  • Context: Increased social media use among adolescents correlates with body image concerns and eating disorders.

  • Previous Research: Traditional media impact understood through integrated models; similar exploration needed for social media.

  • Research Gap: No prior models have tested the influence of social media on body image concerns comprehensively.

  • Study Aim: To establish a biopsychosocial model linking social media use, body image concerns, and disordered behaviors.

Theoretical Framework

Sociocultural Influences

  • Exposure to appearance-focused media can lead to higher internalization of appearance ideals, which impacts body image.

  • Appearance comparisons increase body dissatisfaction and the risk of disordered eating behaviors.

Psychological Attributes

  • Low self-esteem and depressive symptoms are significant risk factors influencing body image and eating concerns.

  • Negative affect leads to biased self-evaluations against social ideals, heightening body dissatisfaction.

Biological Influences

  • Body size (BMI) is significant due to societal pressures towards thinness and muscularity.

  • Biological factors contribute to perceptions and behaviors related to body image.

Social Media Use and Its Effects

  • Characteristics of social media, such as heavy editing of images, promote harmful appearance comparisons.

  • Differentiated ideals of thinness and muscularity across genders suggest paths toward body dissatisfaction and disordered eating.

Current Study Methodology

Participants

  • Sample Population: 770 recruited, 681 completed questionnaires.

  • High socioeconomic advantage reported among most participants; predominantly English as the primary language.

Measures Utilized

  • Social Media Use: Frequency assessed across platforms, correlated with time spent.

  • Self-esteem: Single-item measure evaluating perceptions of self-worth.

  • Depressive Symptoms: CESDR-10 used to measure affective and somatic symptoms of depression.

  • Internalization Measures: Internalization of muscular ideals and social media ideals assessed.

  • Body Dissatisfaction: Evaluated via EDE-Q.

  • Muscle-Building Behaviors: Assessed using the Body Change Inventory.

Results Overview

Data Analysis Techniques

  • Descriptive Statistics: Descriptive statistics and correlations analyzed.

  • Path Analysis: Used to test the hypothetical model.

Findings Among Girls

  • Initial poor model fit improved after adding pathways; explained high variability in multiple factors (body dissatisfaction, dietary restraint).

Findings Among Boys

  • Similar pattern as girls; significant associations emerged with social media use and internalization.[- Direct relationship established between social media use and disordered behaviors.

Discussion

  • Findings reinforce the biopsychosocial model's utility in understanding adolescent body image issues.

  • Highlights the importance of social media as a factor in body image concerns for both genders, with differences in focus:

    • Boys show stronger links to muscular ideal internalization.

    • Additional pathways indicate the complexity of influences on body image.

Limitations

  • Participation rates varied; self-reported measures may introduce bias.

  • Cross-sectional design limits the ability to infer causal relationships.

Conclusion

  • Support for biopsychosocial models among adolescents towards understanding body image.

  • Suggests pathways for interventions considering social media's role in adolescent development.

  • Future research encouraged to explore longitudinal impacts and expand on biological contributors.