Body satisfaction and screen media usage in Spanish schoolchildren

Abstract

Screen media usage among young children has increased dramatically in recent years. Although media consumption has been noted as an influencing factor in children’s body image, the relationship between children’s body satisfaction and screen media usage in children under 10 years old remains a less-explored topic. A cross-sectional study was designed to analyze the association between screen media usage and the body image satisfaction of Spanish children 5–9 years old. By examining the data of 792 schoolchildren (N = 363 boys, 429 girls; M = 7.23 years), this study sought to reveal the association between screen media usage and children’s body satisfaction. The results showed significant correlations between the use of television and video games and satisfaction expressed with facial features and overall body scheme. Observations by sex indicated positive correlations between television consumption and satisfaction with weight among boys, while in girls‚ a negative association was observed between video game consumption and satisfaction with skin and overall body scheme. Multiple regression analyses revealed a positive association between television consumption and satisfaction with weight, face, and hair, whereas the use of video games was negatively associated with satisfaction with eye and skin color. This study provides a better understanding of the relationship between screen consumption and body satisfaction in minors; accordingly, it seeks to contribute to the design of more strategic and focused media literacy interventions, particularly among those populations that are less well-explored‚ such as young children.