What is body image?
Body image is defined as "the perception that a person has of their physical self and the thoughts and feelings that result from that perception" (PsychAlive). PsychAlive explains that there are four determinants of body image: how we personally view our bodies (perceptual), how feel about our bodies (affective), what we think about our bodies (cognitive), and the behaviors we engage in as an outward response to our body image (behavioral). The media, the environment, or even the comments of our friends are external factors that can influence our perception. Although it constantly changes, we have the power to determine whether we want to have a positive or negative perception of ourselves.
How does social media influence body image?
Theres no denying that social media can be used as a double edged sword in our society: on one hand, media sites such as Facebook, Youtube, or Instagram can be used as a platform to inform the public about current events or to share messages of positivity. On the other hand, these sites can become a breeding ground for negative behaviors, which could potentially impact mental and physical health.
Instagram is a widely used platform for celebrities and lifestyle influencers to post a snippet of their extravagant lives. We see images of people with a certain body type, one that is deemed "socially acceptable", and we don't think anything of it in the moment. But after a few hours of scrolling, thoughts of comparison begin to creep in and infiltrate our thoughts. Before we know it, we're criticizing ourselves for not possessing the same qualities as the attractive, heavily-edited figure with millions of likes. The number of likes and comments often become a measure of self worth, and based on these posts, society seems to reward those who look a certain way with more traction. This act of comparison to attractive influencers can greatly affect body image, which is a common trend among young girls.
With the rise of smartphone ownership among teens, social media apps are getting more accessible. According to a 2018 study done by the Pew Research Center, the number of teens who own a smartphone in America has spiked up to 95% in comparison to 2014-15 (45%) which means there is a growing population of young people who are susceptible to the effects of social media.
How does this affect the community?
Body dissatisfaction can ultimately have negative effects on one's physical health as it can lead to taking unhealthy measures to achieve society's "ideal" body image. Although girls are more likely to be affected by body dissatisfaction, studies have shown that boys are not exempt. According to a study from Paediatr Child Health, a group of boys and girls, aged 9-14, who were exposed to beauty in the media were more likely than their peers to develop weight concerns, disordered eating symptoms, and become constant dieters. Additionally, there is also a correlation between media and eating disorders among college students resulting in "predicted disordered eating symptomatology, drive for thinness, body dissatisfaction and ineffectiveness in women, and endorsement of personal thinness and dieting in men" (Paediatr). A negative perception of body image can also take a toll on one's mental health as a result of failure in reaching unrealistic beauty standards. Because of photo editing apps, body alterations can be an easy fix to mimic perfection, but reality can be a rude awakening. Poor body image can trigger depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.
What can be done?
- Read literature on body positivity
- Find support from friends and family
- Engage in technology free activities (sports, painting, hiking, etc.)
- Limit social media usage
- Unplug completely
Why did I choose this topic?
The body image issue has always been a topic near and dear to me because I, myself have struggled with having low self esteem all my life. There were days when I'd lay in bed scrolling through my phone gawking at social media influencers with small waists and curvy figures and my confidence diminished as each minute passed. At one point in sophomore year of college where my perception of my body was so low that I didn't want to leave the house for weeks. I don't believe that anyone is exempt from being under the influence of society's beauty standards however, environmental and individual factors can help regulate how much we let it impact us.
Anderson, M., & Jiang, J. (2018, May 31). Teens, Social Media & Technology 2018. Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2018/05/31/teens-social-media-technology-2018/
Doria, A. (2020, February 19). The Effects of Social Media on Body Image and Mental Health. Life Sciences Journal. http://lifesciencesjournal.org/2020/02/the-effects-of-social-media-on-body-image-and-mental-health/#:%7E:text=Media%20portrayal%20of%20the%20%E2%80%9Cideal,in%20young%20girls%20and%20women.&text=A%202016%20study%20conducted%20by,levels%20of%20anxiety%20and%20depression.
Link Between Social Media & Body Image. (2020, May 15). King University Online. https://online.king.edu/news/social-media-and-body-image/#:%7E:text=Although%20it%20can%20have%20a,perception%20of%20their%20body%20image.&text=The%20survey%20included%201%2C000%20men,%2C%20confidence%2C%20and%20the%20media.
Morris, A. M., & Katzman, D. K. (2003). The impact of the media on eating disorders in children and adolescents. Paediatrics & child health, 8(5), 287–289. https://doi.org/10.1093/pch/8.5.287
McShirley, C. (2015, August 21). What is Body Image? PsychAlive. https://www.psychalive.org/what-is-body-image/
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