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14 views

Background

Uploaded by

amnanoork9
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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BACKGROUND:

Overview: This research investigates how social media affects how teenagers see their bodies. It
explores if platforms like Instagram and Snapchat influence their body image and mental health.

Introduction: Social media is a big part of teens' lives. While it helps them connect, it also
shows idealized body images that can make them feel bad about themselves. This research
looks at how this impacts teenagers' mental well-being.

Significance: Teen years are crucial for mental health. Understanding how social media affects
body image can help us support teens better, especially in promoting positive self-esteem.

Background: Teens undergo many changes, both physically and emotionally. They're also heavy
users of social media, which can affect how they see themselves. Studies show social media can
lead to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem, highlighting the need to study its impact on
teens' body image.

Problem Statement:

Research Problem: The research aims to understand how social media impacts adolescents'
body image, specifically focusing on factors contributing to negative perceptions.

Importance: This is crucial due to social media's influence on adolescents' mental health. It's
timely given the rapid increase in social media use among adolescents, which can lead to
negative body image and related issues like eating disorders and low self-esteem.

Objectives of the study:

Aim:

The overarching aim of the research is to investigate the relationship between social media use
and body image among high school female students.

Objectives:

1.To investigate the differences in the use of social media and body image
with respect to groups of age, grade, and monthly income.
2.To identify if the device used, most common content of social media, most
common platform, time spent on social media, and social media can
predict their body image.
3.To assess effect of social media use on body image among high school
female students.

Significance:
dolescence is a period of significant physical, emotional, and

psychological development. Social media platforms often showcase idealized


and unrealistic body standards, leading to negative body image perceptions
among adolescents. This can result in low self-esteem, body dissatisfaction,
eating disorders, and mental health issues. Understanding these effects helps
Chapter one:Introduction 4

healthcare professionals, including nurses to identify and address body image


concerns and enhancing adolescents mental health.
Nurses play a vital role in assessing and promoting the overall health and
well-being of adolescents. By studying the effects of SMU on body image
and deep understanding of the relationship between SMU and body image ,
nurses can better understand the factors contributing to body dissatisfaction
and related concerns. This knowledge enables them to provide targeted
assessments, interventions, and support to adolescents struggling with body
image issues
Literature Review:

Backdrop of the Problem:

The study focuses on how social media affects body image among high school girls.
Social media's portrayal of idealized body standards can lead to low self-esteem and
mental health issues in adolescents, making it a significant concern for healthcare
professionals (Gupta et al., 2022).

Primary Causes:

Social Media Influence: Constant exposure to idealized body images on social media
can make adolescents feel inadequate about their own bodies (Gupta et al., 2022).

Peer Comparison: Adolescents often compare themselves to others on social media,


leading to unrealistic beauty standards and negative body image perceptions (Gupta et
al., 2022).

Lack of Media Literacy: Without proper media literacy skills, adolescents may struggle
to differentiate between reality and idealized portrayals on social media, affecting their
body image perceptions (Gupta et al., 2022).

Implications:
Mental Health Strain: Excessive social media use correlates with increased depression,
anxiety, and loneliness among both adolescents and young adults. Studies by Twenge and
Campbell (2018) and Primack et al. (2017) have highlighted this concerning trend.

Body Image Issues: Social media's portrayal of unrealistic body ideals contributes to body
dissatisfaction and eating disorders, especially among young women. Research by Fardouly et al.
(2015) and Holland and Tiggemann (2016) underscores the negative impact of idealized images
on platforms like Instagram and Facebook.

Self-Esteem Challenges: Constant social comparison on social media leads to feelings of


inadequacy and diminished self-esteem. Vogel et al. (2014) and Krasnova et al. (2013) found
that frequent social media use correlates with decreased self-esteem, driven by comparisons with
others and envy-inducing content.

These effects not only harm individual well-being but also raise broader societal concerns about
the influence of social media on mental health and body image perceptions.

Proposed Solutions:

1. Digital Literacy Education:


 Rationale: Teach critical thinking and responsible online behavior through digital
literacy programs in schools and communities.
 Evidence: Programs like MediaSmarts and Common Sense Education have
successfully equipped students with skills to navigate social media responsibly
(Source: Livingstone, S., & Sefton-Green, J. (Eds.). (2020). The Routledge
Handbook of Media Literacy. Routledge).
2. Platform Design for Well-Being:
 Rationale: Collaborate with social media platforms to develop features
promoting mindful usage and user well-being.
 Evidence: Instagram's "Take a Break" feature has shown promise in reducing
screen time addiction and fostering balanced usage (Source: Instagram Press,
"Introducing Take a Break").
3. Promotion of Positive Content:
 Rationale: Encourage the spread of positive and diverse content to counteract
harmful beauty standards and comparison behaviors.
 Evidence: Campaigns like Dove's "Real Beauty" and the #BodyPositivity
movement have challenged beauty norms effectively (Source: Dove, "Real Beauty
Campaign"; BodyPositivity.com, "What Is Body Positivity?").

Limitations:
1. Resource Constraints: Lack of funding and personnel may hinder the implementation
of digital literacy programs and platform design changes.
2. Resistance to Change: Social media companies and users may resist changes that
impact profitability or user engagement.
3. Cultural Norms: Deeply ingrained cultural expectations may slow efforts to promote
body positivity and diverse representation on social media.
4.
Discussions:

1. Theory: The results align with previous research on how sociodemographic factors like age,
grade, and income influence social media use and body image perception (AL-jubouri & Alwan,
2022; Mahdi & Khairi, 2020; Karem, 2014).
2. Practice: Educators and healthcare professionals can leverage these findings to design
interventions that promote healthier social media habits and improve body image among
adolescents (Nicole et al., 2019; Dalhoff et al., 2019).
3. Policy: Policymakers may consider integrating social media education into school curricula and
implementing regulations to safeguard adolescents online while addressing socioeconomic
disparities (Jacob et al., 2018; Anderew et al., 2015).
Conclusion:

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