Zoomers: videoconferencing, appearance concerns, and potential effects on adolescents
Laura M Hart1,2, Deborah Mitchison3,4, Jasmine Fardouly4,5
1Centre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria.
Current Opinion in Pediatrics
|July 7, 2022
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic increased adolescent videoconferencing for home learning, leading to greater appearance concerns and a desire for cosmetic procedures. Practitioners should discuss videoconferencing
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Media Studies
- Public Health
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a shift to remote learning, significantly increasing adolescent reliance on videoconferencing platforms.
- Previous research on videoconferencing and appearance concerns has primarily focused on adult populations, with limited data on adolescents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the existing literature on the impact of videoconferencing on appearance concerns, particularly among adolescents.
- To highlight the association between increased self-view during video calls and heightened body image dissatisfaction.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of correlational studies examining videoconferencing use and appearance-related outcomes.
- Analysis of research predominantly involving White, adult women in the USA and Australia.
Main Results:
- Increased time spent on self-view during videoconferencing correlates with heightened appearance concerns.
- Videoconferencing use is linked to an increased desire for cosmetic surgery and other appearance-altering treatments.
- Adolescents at risk for eating disorders exhibited more appearance-management behaviors and reduced engagement during video calls.
Conclusions:
- Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the negative body image impacts of increased videoconferencing.
- Healthcare practitioners should proactively address videoconferencing habits with adolescents to mitigate potential harm to body image.
- Further research is needed to understand these effects across diverse adolescent populations.
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