Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2026
08:17
Reducing State Anxiety Using Working Memory Maintenance
Published on: July 19, 2017
Understanding and Reducing Appearance Anxiety for Social Media Users: A Study Using Ecological Momentary Assessment
Rong Chen1,2, Jin Tong Bai1, Yue Liu1
1Institute of Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, sicnu.edu.cn.
Depression and Anxiety
|June 17, 2026
Summary
Appearance anxiety for social media users (AASMU) often persists daily and co-occurs with social media use (SMU). Self-compassion and healthy lifestyles can buffer these effects, with interventions showing promise.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Digital Health
- Mental Health
Background:
- Appearance anxiety for social media users (AASMU) is a growing concern, linked to social media use (SMU) and impacting well-being.
- The dynamic interplay between AASMU and SMU, and effective interventions, remain underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the day-to-day relationship between AASMU and SMU.
- To examine the moderating roles of self-compassion (SC) and healthy lifestyle on this relationship.
- To evaluate the efficacy of a self-compassion-based ecological momentary intervention (EMI) for reducing AASMU.
Main Methods:
- Study 1: Employed Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) with 206 participants over 20 days, using dynamic structural equation modeling (DSEM).
- Study 2: Implemented an EMI with 200 participants, with an intervention group receiving daily SC statements.
Main Results:
- DSEM revealed AASMU persistence and co-occurrence with SMU.
- Higher self-compassion or healthier lifestyle moderated the AASMU-SMU link, offering resilience.
- The SC-based EMI significantly reduced both the average level and variability of AASMU.
Conclusions:
- AASMU is a persistent issue exacerbated by SMU, but can be mitigated by self-compassion and healthy habits.
- Self-compassion-based EMI presents a viable and effective strategy for managing appearance anxiety in social media users.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Self-Presentation
Self-presentation is a fundamental aspect of social interaction, shaping both how others perceive individuals and how they view themselves. This dynamic process influences behaviors in various social settings, often leading people to adjust their appearance, speech, and demeanor to align with their desired identity. While self-presentation can be deliberate or unconscious, it plays a critical role in interpersonal relationships and self-perception.Forms of Self-PresentationSelf-presentation can...
02:05Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping
People can go to great lengths to protect their self-image and present themselves in ways that they want others to see them. Sociologist Erving Goffman presented the idea that a person is like an actor on a stage. Calling his theory dramaturgy, Goffman believed that we use “impression management” to present ourselves to others as we hope to be perceived. Each situation is a new scene, and individuals perform different roles depending on who is present (Goffman, 1959). Think about the way you...
01:27Protecting Self-Esteem
Self-esteem, a central component of psychological well-being, is actively maintained through various cognitive and behavioral strategies. Individuals employ specific mechanisms to preserve a positive self-concept and mitigate threats to their self-worth, particularly in contexts involving social evaluation or personal feedback. Four primary techniques are commonly used to sustain self-esteem.Manipulating AppraisalsOne prominent strategy involves manipulating appraisals from others. Individuals...
01:30Social Foundations of Self IV: Self in Digital Communication
Since the early 2000s, computer-mediated communication (CMC) has grown rapidly, playing a crucial role in self-development. A key distinction between CMC and real-life interactions is the lack of a physically present partner. This absence makes non-verbal cues such as facial expressions, body language, and paralinguistic signals unavailable in CMC platforms like email, instant messaging, or social media. The lack of these cues can create ambiguity and complicate how feedback is interpreted.The...
01:29Impression Management Techniques I: Managing Appearances
Appearance is a multidimensional aspect of self-presentation that encompasses observable attributes such as clothing, grooming, speech, and nonverbal behavior. These elements are often strategically managed to align with socially constructed expectations in different settings. For instance, individuals tailor their appearance during job interviews, social gatherings, or athletic events to meet the perceived norms of those environments.Contextual Adaptation and Social SignalsThe research...
01:26Modeling in Therapy
Modeling, a key technique in therapy, uses observational learning to help clients acquire and practice new skills by watching therapists demonstrate desired behaviors. This approach, rooted in Albert Bandura's concept of vicarious learning, plays a significant role in therapeutic interventions for various psychological conditions, including social anxiety, ADHD, and depression.
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in situations...
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in situations...