IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON SELF-ESTEEM AND EATING ATTITUDES IN YOUNG ADULTS

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to analyse and understand the relationship in terms of likelihood of social media impacting an individual’s self-esteem and eating patterns and behaviour. The study comprises of 200 participants, in which 100 are male and 100 are females. The data was collected with the help of self-report tools, consisting of Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE). According to the findings, there is a significant and positive relationship between social media consumption and Self Esteem Issues, and similarly, there is a significant and positive relationship between social media consumption and eating attitudes of young adults. The temptation to portray a perfect picture online, along with continual comparison to others, can exacerbate self-esteem issues and bad eating habits. The correlation between these characteristics and emotions of inadequacy, comparison, and low feelings of worth highlights the need of promoting positive self-perception in young adults and supporting appropriate social media practices.