Abstract
ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on social network sites (SNS) use and to explore whether SNS use is associated with body image disturbances and low self-esteem. MethodsA total of 2601 women living in Spain aged 14–35 years completed questionnaire measures of SNS use, self-esteem, body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness. In the survey, participants were asked about their use of SNS at the moment of answering the survey and before lockdown. ResultsA statistically significant increase was found in the frequency of use of all studied SNS (Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Twitter and Facebook) during lockdown, as well as in the number of women following appearance-focused Instagram accounts. Moreover, significant relationships were found between the frequency of Instagram use and body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness and low self-esteem in the younger age group (14–24), and between the frequency of Instagram use and drive for thinness in the older age group (25–35). Following appearance-focused accounts on Instagram was related to body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness in the younger group, and only to drive for thinness in the older group (25–35). Following appearance-focused accounts on Instagram and a higher frequency of use of Instagram significantly predicted higher levels of drive for thinness. ConclusionThese results suggest that lockdown has had an impact on SNS use, and this might be linked to increased drive for thinness and eating disorder risk among adolescent and young women.
Highlights
The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed a significant threat to the global health system worldwide
Following appearance-focused accounts on Instagram and a higher frequency of use of Instagram significantly predicted higher levels of drive for thinness. These results suggest that lockdown has had an impact on social network sites (SNS) use, and this might be linked to increased drive for thinness and eating disorder risk among adolescent and young women
We hypothesized that there would have been a significant increase in the frequency of use of SNS and in the amount of people following appearance-focused Instagram accounts during lockdown, and that the frequency of use of Instagram and following appearance-focused accounts would be positively associated with body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness and low self-esteem
Summary
The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed a significant threat to the global health system worldwide. Several research articles have reported that the COVID-19 outbreak and its associated quarantine might be linked to anxiety, depression, stress, post-traumatic stress disorder and disturbed sleep (e.g. Cao et al 2020; Liang et al 2020; Rajkumar 2020). On 28 April, the Spanish government announced a lockdown exit strategy for the country, as the number of new cases and deaths in the country showed a decreasing trend. This deescalation plan started 10 days before the data for this research was collected
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