A Study on the Impact of Social Media Addiction on Body Image, Appearance Anxiety and Relationship Satisfaction in Young Adults
Author(s): VAISHNU. V
Authors Affiliations:
VAISHNU.V
Clinical Psychologist
District Mental Health Programme, District hospital Kollam, Kerala
DOIs:10.2015/IJIRMF/202506052 | Paper ID: IJIRMF202506052
ABSTRACT
The digital world, Social media has become an inseparable part of modern life, deeply influencing how individuals perceive and present themselves. Social media has transformed the way we exist in daily life by impacting the way we connect, communicate, and ultimately represent ourselves. Social media can cultivate a sense of community, and while it can provide a strong medium for self-expression, it can also contribute to the development of self-image, particularly in youth.
Methods
The aim of the study was to understand the impact of social media addiction on body Image, appearance anxiety and relationship satisfaction in young adults. The participants in this research were 150 young adults (18 to 23 years old) from different districts of Kerala states of India. Bergens Social Media Addiction Scale, The Body Self-Image Questionnaire - Short Form, The Burns Relationship Satisfaction Scale and Appearance Anxiety Scale were administered to the participants.
Results
This study’s results show social media addiction seems to positively influence body self-image it does not seem to influence appearance anxiety and relationship satisfaction in the sample of this study. Nil significant relationships with appearance anxiety and relationship satisfaction.
Conclusion
Social media addiction was positively correlated with body self-image, no relationships with appearance anxiety and relationship satisfaction these associations tended to indicate that under some situations, digital platforms can positively reinforce self-perceptions. The findings highlight the need to consider individual differences and contextual factors when understanding social media's psychological effects.
VAISHNU.V(2025); A Study on the Impact of Social Media Addiction on Body Image, Appearance Anxiety and Relationship Satisfaction in Young Adults, International Journal for Innovative Research in Multidisciplinary Field, ISSN(O): 2455-0620, Vol-11, Issue-6, Pp.421-425. Available on – https://www.ijirmf.com/
- Andreassen. (2016). The relationship between addictive use of social media and video games and symptoms of psychiatric disorders: A large-scale cross-sectional study. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 252–262.
- Burns. (1988). Development and validation of a brief relationship satisfaction scale. Cognitive and affective components of marital satisfaction.
- Carlson. (2019). Social media addiction and social media reactions: The implications for job performance. The Journal of Social Psychology, 746-760.
- Fardouly. (2016). Social Media and Body Image Concerns: Current Research and Future Directions. Current Opinion in Psychology, 1-5.
- Hart. (2008). Development and examination of the social appearance anxiety scale. Assessment, 48–59.
- Perloff. (2014). Social media effects on young women’s body image concerns. Theoretical perspectives and an agenda for research. Sex Roles, 363–377.
- Rowe. (2005). Factorial validity and cross-validation of the Body Self-Image Questionnaire (Short Form) in young adults. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 37-42.
- Veale. (2014). The Appearance Anxiety Inventory: Validation of a Process Measure in the Treatment of Body Dysmorphic Disorder. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 605-616.