A Study on Social Media, Body Image and Appearance Anxiety among College Students

Abstract

Social media can expose users to hundreds or even thousands of images and photos every day, including those of celebrities and fashion or fitness models, which we know leads to an internalization of beauty ideals that are unattainable for almost everyone, resulting in greater dissatisfaction with body weight and shape. Body image is a combination of the thoughts and feelings that one has about their body. Body image may range between positive & negative experiences, and individuals may feel at different times, positive or negative or a combination of both. Appearance anxiety, a general fear of negative evaluation, and perfectionism have each been proposed as risk factors for both social anxiety disorder and the eating disorder. The aim of the research was to study social media, body image and appearance anxiety among college students. Standardized scales were used to measure social media effects on body image & appearance anxiety among college students. The sample of college students ranged between 18-25 years. The results found out that there was no significant relationship between body image, social media and appearance anxiety. Various approaches can be adopted to reduce the effects of social media that are limit your time on social media, embrace the offline world, block and unfollow negative applications, posts, seek out positive content, promote and share positive images and ideas.