Document Type
Poster Session
Department
Social Work
Faculty Mentor
Rachel Casey, PhD, MSW
Keywords
body image, social media, body satisfaction, emerging adults, Maine
Abstract
This study investigated the impacts of social media use, specifically Facebook and Instagram, on emerging adults’ perceptions of self-esteem and body satisfaction. Limited research exists regarding the influence of demographic variables, such as gender, race, and geographic location, on the relationship between social media use and negative outcome variables. The researchers utilized a cross-sectional survey design with a target population of University of Southern Maine students. Researchers hypothesize that emerging adults who spend more time on Facebook and Instagram are more likely to have lower self-esteem and body satisfaction than emerging adults who spend little to no time on Facebook or Instagram. Based on findings from other studies, the researchers also hypothesize that emerging adults who live in urban areas will spend more time using social media sites such as Facebook or Instagram, than emerging adults who live in rural areas (Tacoli, 1998, Dumas et al., 2020; Pick et al., 2019).
Open Access?
1
Included in
Development Studies Commons, Mental and Social Health Commons, Social Media Commons, Social Psychology and Interaction Commons, Social Work Commons, Sociology of Culture Commons
The Impacts of Social Media Sites such as Instagram and Facebook on Emerging Adult’s perceptions of Self-esteem and Body Satisfaction
This study investigated the impacts of social media use, specifically Facebook and Instagram, on emerging adults’ perceptions of self-esteem and body satisfaction. Limited research exists regarding the influence of demographic variables, such as gender, race, and geographic location, on the relationship between social media use and negative outcome variables. The researchers utilized a cross-sectional survey design with a target population of University of Southern Maine students. Researchers hypothesize that emerging adults who spend more time on Facebook and Instagram are more likely to have lower self-esteem and body satisfaction than emerging adults who spend little to no time on Facebook or Instagram. Based on findings from other studies, the researchers also hypothesize that emerging adults who live in urban areas will spend more time using social media sites such as Facebook or Instagram, than emerging adults who live in rural areas (Tacoli, 1998, Dumas et al., 2020; Pick et al., 2019).
