Controversy and Mechanism Analysis of the Association Between Social Media Use and Symptoms of Body Dysmorphic Disorder in Adolescents

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is not uncommon, frequently onsets in early to late adolescence (from age 12 to 16 years), and is associated with severe impairments. Despite its prevalence and impact, current evidence suggests that BDD frequently goes undiagnosed. Building upon the existing theory and research, and recent changes to the diagnostic description and classification of BDD, the primary purpose of the current studies was to develop a new measure to assess BDD symptoms in adolescents and to examine risk and protective factors associated with BDD symptoms. This thesis consists of a series of three empirical studies, which have been published (Studies 1 and 2) or prepared for submission (Study 3) for publication. The first two studies were designed to advance science and practice related to the assessment of adolescent BDD symptoms, while the third study focused on the identification of risk and protective factors for emerging BDD symptoms among adolescents. In Study 1, the factor structure and validity of a widely used measure of body dysmorphic symptoms, the Appearance Anxiety Inventory (AAI; Veale et al., 2013) was investigated. The participants were Australian university students (N = 730) and Australian adolescents (N = 862) who completed surveys. Findings from the exploratory analysis with 50% (n = 365) of the university students supported a 1-factor solution with nine items. Confirmatory factor analysis with the remaining university student (n = 365) and the adolescent samples demonstrated the proposed 1-factor model had an adequate fit to the data on most indicators. It was concluded that the AAI is best considered as a single factor scale with 9 of the original 10 items when used with general, community samples of young adults or adolescents. Based on a review of existing measures of BDD for adolescents and consideration of the DSM-5 criteria for BDD, Study 2 involved the development of a new self-report measure to assess BDD symptoms in adolescents. The new measure, the Multidimensional Youth Body Dysmorphic Inventory (MY BODI), was developed to assess BDD symptoms across all domains of DSM-5 diagnostic criteria and uses a unique response set with the aim of reducing socially desirable responding. Following expert review and piloting of items, results from an exploratory factor analysis with data collected from 582 Australian secondary school students (55% female; Mage = 13.62 years) supported a 3-factor, 21-item measure, with excellent validity. The three factors conformed to the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria of Impairment/Avoidance, Preoccupation/Repetitive behaviours, and Insight/Distress. Supporting the convergent validity of the measure, the MY BODI total score and subscale scores correlated with other measures of BDD symptoms, including the AAI and BDDQ. Finally, in Study 3, the aims were to test whether dispositional mindfulness and self-compassion protect against the negative impact of peer appearance teasing on BDD symptoms. Participants were 170 Australian high school students (59% female; Mage = 15.44 years) who completed the MY BODI, and measures assessing peer teasing about appearance, five facets of dispositional mindfulness, self-compassion, and self-judgment. In hierarchical regressions, peer teasing was associated with reporting more total BDD symptoms, and two components of mindfulness (describing and non-judgment) and self-compassion were uniquely associated with adolescents’ reports of fewer total BDD symptoms. One factor of mindfulness, observing, was associated with more reported BDD symptoms. In moderation analyses, the association between peer appearance teasing and BDD symptoms was stronger when mindful describing was high relative to low, and when self-judgment was low relative to high. Findings were similar across all subscales of MY BODI. These findings suggest that mindfulness and self-compassion are generally associated with fewer BDD symptoms (with the exception of mindful observing). However, in contrast with the hypothesised protective effects, adolescents who reported a greater ability to mindfully describe their experience and those who were less self-judging were more negatively affected by peer appearance teasing. In summary, the results of this thesis support using a 9-item AAI measure with adolescents, provide a new multidimensional measure of BDD that appears reliable and valid, and advance the study of how social and individual factors should be considered in combination in order to explain when adolescents are at more risk for elevated BDD symptoms. BDD is a complex and debilitating disorder that tends to onset in adolescence and runs a chronic course, thus making this an important problem to study in children and adolescents.

Relative to body image, comparatively less research has examined the relationship between social media (SM) use and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). The current meta-analysis examined the cross-sectional relationship between BDD symptoms and SM use/addiction. Of the 1619 studies initially identified, 16 met inclusion criteria. Results revealed a moderate aggregate correlation between SM addiction and BDD symptoms (r = .38, p < .001; n = 9), which was significantly stronger than the weak aggregate correlation revealed between frequency of SM use and BDD symptoms (r = .18, p < .001; n = 10). Of the moderators examined, BDD measure, sex/gender, and SM platform were found to significantly moderate the relationship between BDD and SM addiction. Specifically, studies that measured BDD via the Body Image Concern Inventory, that had a lower percentage of female participants, and that focused on general SM use rather than Instagram use, produced stronger correlations. However, the latter two correlations were only significant when an outlier was removed. Although our results suggest a relationship exists between BDD and SM use/addiction, more experimental and longitudinal research is needed before the direction or presence of causality between these two variables can be determined.

Navigating Social Media in #Ophthalmology

Adolescents’ daily social media use and mood during the COVID-19 lockdown period

Does social media use make us happy? A meta-analysis on social media and positive well-being outcomes

Obsessive compulsive and related disorders have been linked to sleep disturbances. Given that adolescence is a core risk period for body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), and sleep difficulties are particularly prevalent during adolescence, the current study aims to examine associations between sleep quality and BDD symptoms among two separate samples of adolescents. It was hypothesized that lower reported sleep quality would be associated with higher reported BDD symptoms, even after controlling for anxiety and depression. Study 1 included 325 adolescents aged 11-18years who completed an online survey via social media recruitment. The survey included questionnaires on BDD symptoms, sleep quality, and anxiety and depressive disorder symptoms. Study 2 included 396 adolescents who completed the same online survey. In study 1, a significant omnibus regression model accounted for 20.0% of the variance in adolescent BDD symptoms. After controlling for anxiety and depressive symptoms, adolescent sleep quality was significantly associated with BDD symptoms, with a small effect size (sr2 = 0.02). Study 2 yielded similar results, with a significant omnibus regression model accounting for 26.5% of the variance in adolescent BDD symptoms, and significant associations between adolescent sleep quality and BDD symptoms yielding a small effect size (sr2 = 0.01). Exploratory analyses in both studies demonstrated associations between difficulty returning to wakefulness and BDD symptoms. Adolescent sleep quality and BDD symptoms were linked, such that adolescents who reported lower quality sleep also reported higher levels of BDD symptoms. Future research can aim to replicate and extend these results using more rigorous (e.g., longitudinal, experimental) methods.

The present research examined how social media, social comparison, and self-esteem affect adolescents. After an extensive literature review, these hypotheses were developed. 1) Social media use, social comparison, and self-esteem among teenagers will be significantly related. 2) Social media use will affect self-esteem among adolescents.3) Adolescent self-esteem will be affected by social comparison.4) Gender will affect adolescent social media use, comparison, and self-esteem of the 249 samples, 153 are female and 96 are male. Survey participants were 14–25 years old. Data were purposively sampled from Faisalabad educational institutions. The findings were assessed using these methods. Participant demographics were collected using a sheet. Adolescent self-esteem was measured with a scale. The Social Comparison scale measured self-comparative behavior. Participants' social media use was measured using a scale. Analyze the data using correlation, regression, and independent sample tests. Findings illuminate individual traits and tendencies.

Despite its widespread presence, social media&amp;rsquo;s impact on happiness remains unclear. This study investigates the intricate relationship between social media use, happiness, materialism, and social comparison within the specific context of Saudi Arabia. It examines whether materialism and social comparison mediate the association between social media use and happiness. Data were collected through surveys focusing on popular social media platforms used by Saudi adults. These surveys measured social media use, happiness levels, materialistic tendencies, and the propensity for social comparison.&amp;nbsp;A sample of 250 Saudi nationals residing in Riyadh, encompassing various genders and age groups, participated in the study. Statistical analyses using advanced software (SPSS, AMOS 26, and PROCESS 4.0) were conducted to assess correlations and potential mediating effects. The findings revealed a significant positive association between increased social media use and both higher materialism and social comparison. Surprisingly, a positive correlation was also observed between social media use and reported happiness levels. Interestingly, both materialism and social comparison significantly mediated the relationship between social media use and happiness. This suggests that these factors play a crucial role in explaining the observed connection. The findings imply that content presented on social media platforms might cultivate materialistic desires and a drive for upward social comparison, ultimately impacting happiness through these indirect pathways. This research contributes to the existing body of knowledge by proposing and testing a model that links social media use with happiness directly and indirectly through the mediating roles of materialism and social comparison. The study concludes by discussing the practical implications of these findings and outlining potential directions for future research.

Social media and disordered eating among middle-aged women: Not just an adolescent concern

Body dysmorphic disorder typically begins in adolescence, yet little is known about the prevalence and correlates of the disorder in this age group. The current study aimed to explore the presenting features of adolescents meeting probable criteria for body dysmorphic disorder in a large community sample, and compare levels of comorbid psychopathology, quality of life and mental health service use between adolescents with probable body dysmorphic disorder and those without. Questionnaires were completed at school by 3149 adolescents: 63% male, aged 12-18 years ( M = 14.58). These assessed Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.) body dysmorphic disorder criteria, past mental health service use and symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder, anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and eating disorders. In male participants, additional measures assessed quality of life, muscularity concerns, emotional symptoms, peer problems, conduct problems and hyperactivity. The prevalence of probable body dysmorphic disorder was 1.7%; there was no sex difference in prevalence, but older adolescents reported higher prevalence than younger adolescents. Probable body dysmorphic disorder participants reported substantially elevated levels of psychopathology, quality of life impairment and mental health service use compared to non-body dysmorphic disorder participants. The prevalence of body dysmorphic disorder in adolescents is similar to adult samples, and probable body dysmorphic disorder is associated with comorbidity, distress and functional impairment in a community sample. Further research is required to better understand the presentation of body dysmorphic disorder in adolescents, and to improve diagnosis and treatment.

Social media use in the United States has been steadily increasing over the past decade as various social media platforms have become the primary channel of online engagement for the American internet user. Today, Americans use social media to communicate with friends, family, and peers, access entertainment and education, engage in various business and commercial activities, and influence the lifestyles of consumers. As the spectrum of purposeful use of social media diversifies, this paper examines geographic patterns of social media adoption, diffusion, and utilization in U.S. counties. Alongside, the paper also examines demographic and socioeconomic determinants of purposeful social media utilization. Overall, the study sheds light on an important aspect of the contemporary digital divide in the United States.To examine purposeful social network and media use, the paper focuses on penetration of popular social media/networking platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube in U.S. counties. The purpose of use of such platforms – to engage in e-communication, e-commerce, e-entertainment, e-health, and e-education are also examined through the dual lenses of geographic and socioeconomic variations. By borrowing from Adoption-Diffusion Theory (ADT) and Spatially Aware Technology Utilization Model (SATUM), the paper’s conceptual framework posits associations of 18 independent variables with 17 indicators of social media penetration and purposeful usage. Spatial patterns and disparities of social media penetration and purposeful use are analyzed and provide important clues about the geography of the social media digital divide. For example, social media penetration and purposeful use in counties in the U.S. rural south are found to rival counties in the Rocky Mountain States and in some cases exceed counties in urban metropolitan areas in the West- and East Coasts. The presence of spatial bias in social media penetration and use is also diagnosed using spatial autocorrelation analysis. This in turn influences the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression-based analysis of socioeconomic, infrastructural, and social capital underpinnings. For a sample of 3,076 counties in the lower 48 states, leading determinants of purposeful social media use are found to be age structure, urbanization, race/ethnicity and professional, scientific, technical services and overall service sector occupations are found to influence social network access and purposeful use. These findings have important policy implications to broaden the reach and impacts of social media in the U.S.Overall, as the digital divide literature expands its focus from access to information and communication technologies (ICTs) to their actual use and ultimate impact, this study is unique due to its focus on purposeful use of social media. Sourcing data from a variety of public- and private sources, the study focuses on social media usage as well as access and sheds light on county-level disparities and their socioeconomic underpinnings. As purposeful internet use continues to diversify, the findings of this study can inform social media adoption, diffusion, and use policies in light of the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that all Americans can participate and engage in online activities and derive benefits in an equitable way.

Youth Social Media Use and Health Outcomes: #diggingdeeper

Background The growing use of social media has a major impact on people's lives, especially adolescents. Teenagers tend to upload pictures, reels, and stories to keep up with the latest trends, seek approval from society, and gain self-worth. Influencers' heavy use of photoshopped, edited images using filters is setting certain unreal beauty standards, and adolescents trying to copy them is leading to an increase in body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). Aim and objective This study aimed to study the prevalence of BDD in adolescents and its association withsocial media usage. Material and methods A descriptive cross-sectional, validated questionnaire-based study was conducted among adolescents in the age group of 13-18 years by the Department of Pediatrics ofAcharya Shri Chander College of Medical Science and Hospital (ASCOMS & H) in Jammu, India. Data were collected by distributing the validated questionnaire consisting of sociodemographic data, social media use, and the Dysmorphic Concern Questionnaire (DCQ) scale from four schools (two government and two private) in Jammu. A total of 740 completely filled questionnaires were analyzed statistically. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the mean scores of BDD, whereas the Chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis test for non-parametric data and p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results In the present study, the prevalence of BDD in adolescents in Jammu is found to be 29.45%. Greater frequency of social media usage, i.e., greater than four hours a day, social media practices like taking more selfies, excess use of beauty filters, and sharing of pictures on a regular basis, were related to increased mean DCQ scores and thus an increase in BDD. The study showed that with the increase in age, there was a subsequent increase in the prevalence of BDD. Female gender and adolescents having a lower economic status at home significantly have more chance to develop BDD. Conclusion Our study concludes that there is a potential association between the use of social media in rising BDD, especially among females and adolescents of lower economic status. Doctors, school teachers, parents, friends, government campaigns, policymakers, and social media influencers can come together to spread awareness and educate adolescents about self-love, confidence, and natural beauty.

#trial: clinical research in the age of social media

Cooperative Mentorship: Negotiating Social Media Use within the Family