Abstract
Social network site appearance comparison refers to a tendency to compare the body image of one-self to others when using social network sites. It was found to be associated with negative emotions, for example, depression, among young females, and this association was mediated by body image and self-esteem. However, researches on the chain-mediating role of body image and self-esteem in anxiety had been limited. Therefore, the current study examined the chain-mediating role between social network site comparison and anxiety among 320 Chinese females, using the Social Network Site Appearance Comparison Scale (SNSACS), Multidimensional Body–Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ), Self-esteem Scale (SES), and the anxiety subscale of Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale (DASS). Results revealed that (1) SNSACS, SES, and DASS anxiety scores were significantly correlated with each other, and the scores of two MBSRQ subscale, that is, body area satisfaction and overweight preoccupation, were significantly correlated with SNSACS, SES, and DASS anxiety scores; (2) body area satisfaction and self-esteem played a chain-mediating role in the effect of social network site appearance comparison on anxiety; (3) overweight preoccupation and self-esteem played a chain-mediating role in the effect of social network site appearance comparison on anxiety. The findings may inspire new ideas for understanding how social comparison triggers anxiety and for developing methods to reduce anxiety derived from appearance comparison among Chinese females.
Highlights
In today’s society, the demands on women’s body shape are getting higher and higher
Pairwise correlation analysis revealed the following: [1] social network site appearance comparison, self-esteem, and anxiety scores were significantly correlated with each other (r = −0.138, 0.140, and −0.413, respectively; all p < 0.05); [2] social network site appearance comparison was significantly correlated with appearance orientation (r = 0.471, p < 0.01), body area satisfaction (r = −0.141, p < 0.05), and overweight preoccupation (r = 0.304, p < 0.01) subscale scores of Multidimensional Body–Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ); [3] except for appearance orientation and self-classified weigh subscales, scores of the other eight subscales of MBSRQ were significantly correlated with both self-esteem (r = −0.144 to 0.505, all p < 0.01) and anxiety (r = −0.274 to 0.168; all p < 0.01 except for that of illness orientation (ILLOR) subscale, p < 0.05) scores
Because the premise of implementing mediating effect analysis was that there was correlativity among predictors, mediating variables, and criteria, only 2 models met the correlativity in all pathways, which were as follows: [1] social network site appearance comparison was taken as the predictor, body area satisfaction and self-esteem were taken as the mediating variables, and anxiety was taken as the criterion, named as model 1 and [2] social network site appearance comparison was taken as the predictor, overweight preoccupation and self-esteem were taken as mediating variables, and anxiety was taken as the criterion, named as model 2
Summary
An ideal female body is considered to be slim, and in perfect proportion These high standards make the idea of beauty less healthy and natural, as more women are using weight-loss drugs or taking cosmetic surgery. Social network site appearance comparison referred to the process in which an individual compares with other website users, features such as appearance and body shape through selfies, videos, and other information displayed on social network sites [1]. Et al [2] developed the Social Network Site Appearance Comparison Scale (SNSACS) to investigate the extent one compared his/her appearance, body shape, and clothing with others on social network sites. Social network site appearance comparison was associated with mental health. Et al [3] found that making fewer appearance comparisons was positively associated with preadolescents’ mental health. Social network site appearance comparison was found to be positively associated with depression [4, 5]
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