Journal
BODY IMAGE
Volume 39, Issue -, Pages 276-292Publisher
ELSEVIER
DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2021.10.001
Keywords
Meta-analysis; Social media; Social networking site; Body image; Appearance ideals; Fitspiration
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This article presents four meta-analyses on the relationship between social media and body image. It found that appearance-ideal social media images have a moderate negative effect on body image, especially in higher-risk contexts, and are more impactful than other appearance images on social media. Longitudinally, social media use has a very small negative correlation with body image.
This article presents four meta-analyses that can inform causality in the relationship between social media and body image; 24 experimental samples comparing the effect of appearance-ideal social media images to non-appearance-related conditions (n = 3816); 21 experimental samples examining the effect of contextual features (e.g., comments and captions) accompanying appearance-ideal social media images (n = 3482); 14 experimental samples investigating the effect of appearance-ideal images versus other appearance images on social media (n = 2641); and 10 longitudinal samples on social media use and body image (n = 5177). Social media appearance-ideal images had a moderate negative effect on body image (Hedges' g = -0.61, p < .01), were more damaging in higher-than lower-risk contexts (Hedges' g = -0.12, p < .01), and were moderately more impactful than other social media appearance images (Hedges' g = -0.68, p = .05). These effects were smaller but significant with outliers removed. Social media use had a very small, negative correlation with body image longitudinally (Fisher's Z = -0.08, p < .001). No significant moderators emerged. Clinicians should consider approaches to managing social media use, particularly exposure to appearance-ideal imagery, in case conceptualisation and psychoeducation for clients at risk of, or experiencing, body image disturbance. (c) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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