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Exploring the Relationship Between Instagram Use and Self-Criticism, Self-Compassion, and Body Dissatisfaction in the
Andrea Varaona1, Miguel Angel Alvarez-Mon1,2,3,4, Irene Serrano-Garcia5
1Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcala, Alcalá de Henares, Spain.
Journal of Medical Internet Research
|August 1, 2024
Summary
Excessive Instagram use, especially viewing appearance-focused content, is linked to increased self-criticism and body dissatisfaction. This highlights the platform's impact on psychological well-being.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Media Studies
- Digital Well-being
Background:
- Social media's influence on psychological well-being is a growing concern, particularly for younger demographics.
- Instagram usage is linked to perfectionism, body dissatisfaction, and low self-esteem.
- Self-criticism, associated with perfectionism, is linked to psychopathologies, while self-compassion promotes well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between Instagram usage (time and content exposure) and self-compassion, self-criticism, and body dissatisfaction.
- To understand how different types of Instagram content affect psychological markers.
- To explore age-related differences in these associations.
Main Methods:
- 1051 adult participants (18-50 years) in Spain completed questionnaires on Instagram use, self-compassion, body shape, and depressive experiences.
- Data collected between January 23 and February 25, 2022.
- Utilized abbreviated scales for self-compassion, body shape, and depressive experiences.
Main Results:
- Higher daily Instagram usage (>3 hours) correlated with increased self-criticism.
- Appearance-focused content positively correlated with self-criticism and body dissatisfaction.
- Younger users (18-35) viewing beauty/fashion content showed higher self-criticism than those viewing science content.
- Sports/fitness or family/friends content correlated with higher body dissatisfaction than science content.
- No significant link found between Instagram time and self-compassion or body dissatisfaction.
Conclusions:
- Instagram usage significantly impacts self-criticism and body dissatisfaction.
- These psychological variables are crucial in understanding users' overall mental health.
- The study emphasizes the need to consider content type and usage duration in relation to psychological outcomes.
Keywords:
HispanicInstagramSpainSpanishappearanceassociationbodybody dissatisfactioncorrelationdepressiondepressivedissatisfactionmental healthmental wellbeingpsychologicalsatisfactionself-compassionself-criticismself-esteemself-worthsocial mediausageMore Related Videos
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