Psychology ETDs

Publication Date

Summer 7-29-2025

Abstract

Though prior research has identified a range of negative impacts associated with social networking site/app (SNS) use, these effects vary and are often attributed to specific aspects of SNSs rather than time spent on them. The current study examined relations between SNS use and various psychological outcomes (i.e., body appreciation, body dissatisfaction, eating pathology, depression, and self-esteem) and how these may differ by platform, proportion of image-based content, image subjects, and passive (relative to active) use. Worse outcomes were anticipated for individuals who primarily used appearance-focused platforms and those with greater exposure to image-based content, self or celebrity images, and passive use. Female college students (N = 690), ages 18–24, completed an online survey assessing these constructs. Path models that controlled for BMI demonstrated SNS time was significantly, though weakly (βs = -.11–.21), associated with all outcomes except body appreciation. Neither proportion of image-based activities nor passive use moderated these relations. Platform differences were minimal, though TikTok users fared significantly worse than those who primarily used other appearance-focused SNSs. Exposure to various types of image subjects differentially related to outcomes, such that celebrity exposure was not a significantly stronger predictor. Thus, hypotheses were largely unsupported, though this may reflect methodological inadequacies among foundational research or limitations of the current study. Findings suggest modest risks from general SNS use, with some image-related patterns warranting further research using refined measures and analytic strategies.

Degree Name

Psychology

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Psychology

First Committee Member (Chair)

Jane Ellen Smith, Ph.D.

Second Committee Member

Margo Hurlocker, Ph.D.

Third Committee Member

Sarah Erickson, Ph.D.

Language

English

Keywords

social media use, body image, eating disorders, mental health, well-being

Document Type

Thesis

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