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Between Screens and Self-Perception: The Role of Gender and Digital Media Use in Shaping Body Esteem and Self-Esteem
Mateusz Grajek1, Tomasz Jurys2, Mateusz Rozmiarek3
1Department of Public Health, Faculty of Public Health in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 41-902 Bytom, Poland.
Background/Objectives:
Adolescence is a critical period for identity development and self-perception, increasingly shaped by digital media. This study aimed to examine how gender, body mass index (BMI), and Internet use influence body esteem and global self-esteem among adolescents aged 15-18 years old, with particular focus on the psychological impact of digital exposure.
Methods:
A three-wave online study was conducted using the Computer-Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) technique. The final sample consisted of 500 Polish adolescents (251 girls, 249 boys). Participants completed the Body Esteem Scale (BES) and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (SES) at three time points. The study explored gender differences, the role of BMI, and the impact of time spent online.
Results:
Girls reported significantly lower BES and SES scores than boys (p < 0.001), despite no significant gender differences in BMI. Time spent online was negatively associated with both body esteem and self-esteem (p < 0.01), with the most pronounced effects among girls using the Internet for more than 4 h daily. Regression analyses identified gender and Internet use as significant predictors of self-perception, while BMI did not.
Conclusions:
Digital media use, particularly prolonged exposure, appears to be a stronger predictor of adolescent self-perception than objective body measures such as BMI. Girls are especially vulnerable to its adverse effects on both body esteem and global self-esteem. These findings underscore the need for gender-sensitive interventions focused on media literacy, emotional resilience, and healthy digital habits among adolescents.
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