Impact of Use of Social Media on Perceived Body Dysmorphia Among Young Females

Abstract

The purpose of current study was to examine the impact of social media use onperceived body dysmorphia among young females. The size of sample was 250 females with age range from 18-25. Cross sectional survey was utilized in the study. The body dysmorphic concern questionnaire Oosthuizen (1998) and the social media use questionnaire Tuck and Thompson (2023) were used. Convenient sampling technique was utilized for data collection. Data was analyzed in spss-25 version and results were calculated through Correlation analysis, Reliability analysis, ANOVA and regression analysis. Results of the study shows that use of social media have siginificant impact on perceived body dysmorphia as (R²=.49**, p<0.01). Difference is statistically in-significant between the participants with thin-flat, fat-broad and normal body type  females, (F=2.24). Further results shows that participants with a dark color complexion score high on perceived body dysmorphic concern questionnaire (F=9.74) as compare to other skin types (fair and whitish). Moreover, females who use Instagram more frequently score high on body dysmorphic concern questionnarie (F=4.43) as compare to other social media platforms (Engeln et al., 2020). Further, females who use intagram more frequently score high on social media use scale (F=3.93). Further (p<0.05) which shows the significance of the study results. The study's findings indicated that females who spent more than 5 hours on social media score high on body dysmorphic scale (F=6.40) as compare to females who spent 1-3h and 3-5hours on social media. Moreover participants who spend more time on social media score high on social media use scale ((F=12.2). Further use of social media positively predict body dysmorphia among young females as (R²= 24%**, p<0.01) which shows 24% variance in body dysmorphia is caused by use of social media.

Keywords: Social media use, Body dysmorphia, Body type, Skin type