Social Media Body Image Sara Stephens Research Questions

Social Media & Body Image Sara Stephens

Research Questions Research Question 1: How does the frequency that one uses SNS effect their personal body image? Research Question 2: Does the type of SNS that one uses most effect their personal body image?

Hypotheses Hypothesis 1: If the social media user spends more time on SNS, then the user is more likely to have a negative body image because they are more exposed to the ideal body type that has become the norm through social media. Hypothesis 2: If Instagram is the social media vehicle used most, then users would have more negative body image because Instagram is strictly visual and allows users to visually compare themselves to the photos they see.

Methodology Anonymous, online survey on Google Forms 16 questions, 3 -4 minutes Posted on Facebook, sent link in text messages, asked family to pass link along to their friends Basic demographic questions Basic questions regarding social media usage Personal questions about different ways SNS can have an impact on them How often, which vehicles used, which vehicle used most, types of accounts followed # of times/day they compare themselves to photos, inclined to eat less/exercise more Personal questions about their body image How they rate their own body image

Results Hypothesis 1: More time spent on SNS=lower body image Took highest and lowest options for time spent on SNS per day 0 -2 hours and 9+ hours 0 -2 hours per day Of those people, 55. 6% indicated positive/very positive body image 19. 4% negative/very negative body image Remaining respondents were neutral 9+ hours per day Of those people, 20% positive/very positive body image 60% negative/very negative Comparing 19% to 60% is a large difference of people having negative body image, therefore the hypothesis is supported by the results

Results Hypthesis 2: Instagram is SNS used most = lower body image Respondents who use Instagram most often over other SNS: 40. 8% have positive/very positive body image 30. 7% have negative or very negative body image Remainder is neutral Alone, those percentages do not seem significant Respondents who indicated any SNS other than Instagram used most often: 58. 6% positive/very positive body image 12. 2% negative/very negative body image Remainder neutral Comparing the two variables, the percentages support the prediction that Instagram influences a more negative body image compared to other SNS Instagram users more than doubled non Instagram respondents

Conclusion Hypothesis of time spend on SNS per day affecting the users body image was supported, with users who spend more time having significantly more people responding with negative/very negative Results from the survey support the prediction that people who use Instagram the most over other social media vehicles are likely to have more negative body image