Social network addiction symptoms and body dissatisfaction in young women: exploring the mediating role of awareness of appearance pressure and internalization of the thin ideal

Abstract

Plain English summary Is social network site (SNS) addiction directly associated with body dissatisfaction (BD)? Previous studies examining a direct relationship between these variables have reported inconsistent results. We investigated whether other variables mediate this relationship (i.e., variables that are affected by SNS addiction and, in turn, provoke BD). Specifically, we examined whether being aware of the pressures to achieve beauty ideals, and internalization thereof (hereafter referred to as awareness and internalization, respectively) mediate the SNS addiction–BD relationship, both individually and serially: SNS addiction → Awareness → BD; SNS addiction → Internalization → BD; and SNS addiction → Awareness → Internalization → BD. 368 female undergraduates completed scales assessing SNS addiction symptoms, BD, awareness, and internalization. Mediational analyses indicated that SNS addiction symptoms predict greater awareness and internalization, moreover, both variables were positively related to women’s BD. Further, the findings indicated that awareness and internalization were serial mediators of the relationship between SNS addiction and BD; women with more severe SNS addiction symptoms were more aware of appearance-related pressure, which was associated with the internalization of beauty ideals. In turn, this internalization was positively related to BD symptoms. These results indicate an indirect link between SNS addiction and BD, highlighting the role of awareness and internalization as mediators of this relationship.

Keywords

• Body dissatisfaction
• Social network site addiction
• Awareness of appearance-based pressures
• Internalization of thin ideal
• Body mass index