Abstract
At present, adolescents’ photo-taking and photo-sharing on social media represent ubiquitous practices and objectified body consciousness (OBC) might offer a useful framework to explore online self-presentation and social networking site (SNS) use. Indeed, SNS might represent a highly accessible medium for socializing with self-objectification. However, the relationship between OBC components and problematic SNS use is still understudied. The present study evaluated the previously unexplored predictive role of appearance control beliefs on problematic SNS use, testing the mediating effect of body image control in photos (BICP) across male and female groups. A total of 693 adolescents (55% females; mean age 16 years) participated in the study. Results showed the negatively predictive role of appearance control beliefs on control over body image in photos. Moreover, BICP mediated the appearance control beliefs’ negative effect on problematic SNS use in girls. The present study tested the unexplored effect of appearance control beliefs upon problematic SNS use, contributing to the OBC research field and the ongoing debate concerning predictive and protective factors in problematic SNS use.
Highlights
In recent years, self-focused photo-taking and photo-sharing on social networking sites (SNSs) have become ubiquitous practices and objectification theory (Fredrickson and Roberts, 1997) might offer a useful framework to explore online self-presentation and SNS use (Fox and Vendemia, 2016)
The present study primarily focused on the understudied construct of appearance control beliefs, contributing to the objectified body consciousness (OBC) research field and the ongoing debate concerning predictive factors in problematic SNS use
A mediation model was tested to explore the predictive role of appearance control beliefs on problematic SNS use via body image control in photos (BICP)
Summary
Self-focused photo-taking and photo-sharing on social networking sites (SNSs) have become ubiquitous practices and objectification theory (Fredrickson and Roberts, 1997) might offer a useful framework to explore online self-presentation and SNS use (Fox and Vendemia, 2016). A close predecessor of objectification theory is the psychological construct identified in objectified body consciousness (OBC) (McKinley and Hyde, 1996) These frameworks posit that repeated objectification experiences might lead to females’ self-objectification and facilitate such individuals to assume and internalize an outside observer’s gaze on their physical selves (Fredrickson and Roberts, 1997; Moradi and Huang, 2008; Feltman and Szymanski, 2018). This particular view of self might lead to a form of selfconsciousness in which females develop identities strongly rooted in (and defined by) their physical. An increasing number of studies have highlighted that self-objectification and consequent beliefs are experienced by males, especially in adolescence (Moradi and Huang, 2008; Daniel and Bridges, 2010; Moradi, 2010; Vandenbosch and Eggermont, 2013; Dakanalis et al, 2015; Manago et al, 2015; Holland and Tiggemann, 2016; Karsay et al, 2018)
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