Facebook and body image concern in adolescent girls: A prospective study

Tiggemann, Marika; Slater, Amy

Abstract

© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Objective: The primary aim of the study was to examine the relationship across time between Facebook use and body image concern in adolescent girls. Method: A sample of 438 girls in the first two years (Years 8 and 9) of high school (aged 13-15 years) at Time 1 completed questionnaire measures of Facebook consumption and body image concerns, and again two years later (Time 2). Results: Facebook involvement increased substantially over the two year time period. Body image concerns also increased. Number of Facebook friends was found to prospectively predict the observed increase in drive for thinness. On the other hand, internalization and body surveillance prospectively predicted the observed increase in number of Facebook friends. Discussion: It was concluded that Facebook “friendships” represent a potent sociocultural force in the body image of adolescent girls. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2017; 50:80–83).

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 27, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Oct 18, 2016
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2017
• Deposit Date: Oct 10, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 18, 2017
• Journal: International Journal of Eating Disorders
• Print ISSN: 0276-3478
• Electronic ISSN: 1098-108X
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 50
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 80-83
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.22640
• Keywords: Facebook, drive for thinness, body image, adolescents, social networking
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/900964
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eat.22640
• Contract Date: Oct 10, 2016