#NoFilter: The impact of social media body dysmorphic disorder in adults

Abstract

Abstract While existing literature has extensively examined the correlation between social media usage and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) in adolescents, research on this relationship among adults remains limited. Thus, this study sought to explore the association between social media engagement and BDD in adults. A sample of 222 participants completed a questionnaire comprising various scales to assess the influence of social media usage and time spent on these platforms on body dissatisfaction. The results revealed a positive correlation between social media usage and symptoms of body dissatisfaction, as well as low self‐esteem. Notably, increased time spent on social media emerged as a significant predictor of body dissatisfaction. Moreover, a significant link was observed between self‐esteem and Appearance‐Related Consciousness concerning image uploads on social media platforms. Image‐centric platforms like Snapchat and Instagram exhibited higher levels of body dissatisfaction. Interestingly, gender differences in these associations were not identified.

Keywords

• body dysmorphic disorder
• self‐esteem
• social media