Social media and its impact on how young women feel about their body.

What is it about?

Social media during the COVID19 pandemic remained for many young people the only appealing way to deal with long periods of isolation and uncertainty. Spending several hours a day scrolling on social media images, however, put at stake the psychological wellbeing of the youth, especially those at risk of presenting eating disorders and /or a body dysmorphic disorder. In this study we explored the impact of frequency of social media use and psychological distress on the levels of body dissatisfaction in young women before and after the onset of COVID 19. A total of 289 Portuguese and British young women participated in this study. Our results showed that psychological distress, frequency of social media use and body dissatisfaction increased in women from both nationalities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, a moderate use of social media is associated with lower levels of body dissatisfaction in the Portuguese while an excessive use of social media is only deleterious for British women.

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Photo by Hanna Postova on Unsplash

Photo by Hanna Postova on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This study provides a theoretical foundation to design new tools to reduce body-related distress and help moderate social media use in similar future situations. These efforts with set the context to enhance self-acceptance and a positive self-image in the youth, essential aspects to prevent body image related disorders.