Examining the Relationship Between Social Media, Body Image, and Disordered Eating in Young Women: A Correlational Study

Abstract

Social media usage has become increasingly prevalent among young adults, particularly women, in recent years. The pervasive nature of social media platforms has raised concerns about their potential impact on body image perception and eating behaviours. Objective: To investigate the relationship between social media usage, body image perception, and disordered eating behaviours among young women. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 262 female undergraduate students aged 18-21 years. Participants completed self- report questionnaires including the EDI-3, MBSRQ-AS, ASMC, and EAT-26. Spearman's rank correlation and regression analyses were performed to examine associations between variables. Results: Significant correlations were found between positive body image and body dissatisfaction (r=-0.68, p<0.001), social media behaviour and positive body image (r=-0.54, p<0.001), social media behaviour and body dissatisfaction (r=0.62, p<0.001), disordered eating behaviour and body image (r=-0.59, p<0.001), disordered eating behaviour and body dissatisfaction (r=0.71, p<0.001), and disordered eating behaviour and social media behaviour (r=0.66, p<0.001). Regression analysis confirmed the directionality of these relationships. Conclusion: The findings reveal a complex interplay between social media exposure, body image concerns, and unhealthy eating patterns in young female adults. Targeted interventions promoting positive body image and healthy social media habits are warranted to mitigate negative impacts on eating behaviours in this population.