The effect of social comparison and peer acceptance during Facebook usage on body image, body change strategies and self-esteem
Catherall, J., and Caltabiano, M. (2012) The effect of social comparison and peer acceptance during Facebook usage on body image, body change strategies and self-esteem. In: Combined Abstracts of 2012 Australian Psychology Conferences. From: .
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Abstract
The diversity of information provided on Social Networking (SN) sites offers an ideal basis for social comparison, and peer acceptance is also an important feature of these sites. Both social comparison and peer acceptance are linked to self-esteem, body image and disordered eating, and emerging research indicates this link may extend to SN site usage. The current study investigated this notion by examining social comparison and perceived peer acceptance on the SN site Facebook, and their relationship with body image, body change strategies and self-esteem. The study used an online survey of 166 males and females aged between 18 and 66. Questions were asked on Facebook usage (number of times used, checking behaviour, and length of time on the site), perceived liking by friends, and similarity to friends on Facebook. Self-esteem was measured using Rosenberg's Self Esteem Scale. Body image and the use of body change strategies were examined using Ricciardelli and McCabe's Body Image and Body Change Inventory (RSE.) Hierarchical regressions revealed that some elements of Facebook usage, specifically frequency of checking and perceived peer acceptance by Facebook friends, are associated with the investigated factors. Checking significantly predicted body image importance and the use of body change strategies, and decreased perceived peer acceptance was associated with decreases in self-esteem.
| Item ID: | 23613 |
|---|---|
| Item Type: | Conference Item (Abstract / Summary) |
| ISBN: | 978-0-909881-00-9 |
| Related URLs: | |
| Date Deposited: | 05 Nov 2012 05:26 |
| FoR Codes: | 17 PSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITIVE SCIENCES > 1701 Psychology > 170106 Health, Clinical and Counselling Psychology @ 100% |
| SEO Codes: | 92 HEALTH > 9205 Specific Population Health (excl. Indigenous Health) > 920507 Womens Health @ 100% |
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