The Relationship between Social Network Use and Body Image Dissatisfaction among College Students: The Mediating Role of Social Network Body Image Comparison
In the age of the Internet, social networks have become increasingly close to People’s Daily life,becoming an important tool for people to maintain social relations and an important platform for peopleto show their ideal self-image. Previous research results show that body dissatisfaction is common amongcollege students. The Tripartite Influence Model believes that mass media is an important source of bodydissatisfaction, while body image comparison is an important factor. In order to explore the relationshipbetween social network use, body image comparison of social network sites and body dissatisfaction,this study used questionnaires to investigate 478 college students from Hunan University of Scienceand Technology. The results showed that: (1) There was a significant positive correlation between socialnetwork use, body image comparison of social network sites and body dissatisfaction. (2) After addingthe body image comparison of social networking sites, social network use can significantly positivelypredict the body image comparison on social network sites. Body image comparison on social networkingsites can significantly positively predict body dissatisfaction. The use of social networking sites to predictbody image dissatisfaction is not significant. Body image comparison on social networking sites playsa completely mediating role between SNS use and body dissatisfaction. (3) The higher the intensity ofsocial networking use of college students, the higher the level of image comparison induced on socialnetworking sites, individuals are more dissatisfied with their body image.