Social media use and appearance pressure among midlife women: Associations with fat talk and old talk

With the advent of social media, body image concerns have increased among women who frequently engage in social media use. Emerging evidence suggests that midlife women experience negative body image outcomes associated with social media use, and women's body image concerns and social media use may contribute to negative body and age focused talk. Further, negative self-talk while socializing with friends and family may reflect internalized concerns about body image and aging. This study examined associations between social media use, internalization of appearance pressure from social media, traditional media, peers, and partners, and fat talk and old talk- which reflects engaging in critical and negative talk about weight-related body image and appearance-related signs of aging. Midlife women (ages 40-65; n = 301) were recruited for an online study about body image, health, and social factors. Analyses indicated that greater social media use and internalized appearance pressure from social media and from peers were associated with increased fat talk and old talk. Results showed a significant indirect effect of social media use on fat talk and old talk via internalized appearance pressure from social media and from peers. The findings suggest that social media use is associated with midlife women's appearance pressures, and that together these are associated with more frequent social interactions focused on negative body and age-related communication. Investigating social media use, social communications, and midlife women's body image is needed to understand these pathways and support midlife women's body image and well-being.