Video Abstract: Early Adolescent Social Media-Related Body Dissatisfaction: Associations With Depressive Symptoms, Social Anxiety, Peers, and Celebrities

Video Author:Linda Charmaraman, Youth, Media, & Wellbeing Research Lab, Wellesley Centers for Women, Wellesley College

Published on:February 04, 2021

We conducted a survey of 11 to 14 year-olds using body dissatisfaction measures related to social media use. 19% reported social media-related body dissatisfaction (SMBD). Participants’ most common concerns included not being thin enough, not attractive enough, and disliking body shape, hair, and face. Results from ANCOVA analyses showed those reporting SMBD checked their social media more frequently, had higher rates of depressive symptoms, online social anxiety, found it harder to make new friends, and were more socially isolated. Those who followed celebrities checked social media more frequently and were more likely to have depressive symptoms and online social anxiety.