Impact of Social Media on Self-Perception (Annotated Bibliography)

Ahadzadeh, A. S., Pahlevan Sharif, S., & Ong, F. S. (2017). Self-schema and self-discrepancy mediate the influence of Instagram usage on body image satisfaction among youth. Computers in Human Behavior, 68, 8–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.11.011

The present research investigates the effect of Instagram on body satisfaction using self-esteem, self-schema, and self-discrepancy as moderators. It suggests that the more students are involved in Instagram, the worse their body satisfaction is, especially for those with low self-esteem. The participants were 273 university students. Consequently, self-schema, which reflects how useful one’s appearance is to one’s cognition and self-discrepancy, which measures the extent to which one does not measure up to the image one has of oneself, mediates this effect partially sequentially. According to the study, the hostile experience of using this site is closely tied to its users’ self-esteem; the lower that self-esteem is— the more likely participants are to compare themselves to the airbrushed images on Instagram. Theoretical extensions for the current study pertain to social comparison and appearance idealization instigated by Instagram use. To lessen the negative impact of Instagram on body satisfaction, the authors suggest that strategies, including media literacy and self-esteem, may be helpful.

Nuckols, C. (2013). The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). Delaware Health and Social Services. https://dhss.delaware.gov/dsamh/files/si2013_dsm5foraddictionsmhandcriminaljustice.pdf

This reference lists the DSM-5 general criteria for diagnosing mental disorders such as body dysmorphic disorder. Nuckols describes BDD as a disorder in which the patient persistently focuses on perceived defects in their body and experiences significant subjective discomfort and limitation. Precisely, the current DSM-5 classification is crucial to help mental health professionals identify the obsessive-compulsive aspects of BDD – thereby labelling it as a compulsive disorder that includes, for instance, mirror-checking and body comparisons. One has to refer to the manual for the descriptions, which are so authoritative, to act adequately in diagnosing and treating BDD and related disorders. The first essential perspective for the clinical picture of BDD is Nuckols' deconstruction, in which healthcare workers can employ specific approaches and understand the impact of social factors, such as social media.

Erickson, M. (2018). Body Dysmorphia in the Age of the Internet. California State University. https://www.csustan.edu/sites/default/files/groups/University%20Honors%20Program/Journals_two/dis_erickson_maggijo.pdf

The rationale of Erickson's study will lie in revealing the potential effects of social media, focusing on Instagram, specifically on symptoms of BDD in young adults. According to the research, employing the BDDQ and other reliable assessments, high usage of Instagram is associated with escalated BDD symptoms. Consequently, high photo-based activity and extraordinarily unengaging appearance-content viewing were associated with body dissatisfaction and, possibly, compulsive use, according to Erickson's study. For this reason, the survey carried out in the project, the body image issues related to photo-sharing, offers a paradigm view on the psychological dangers of social networks. Erickson stated loudly, that to counter this, there is a need for a better cognizance of how controls like the filter and "selfie" rhetoric enhance the body dissonance in folks with susceptible inner selves. The result of this would be necessary for practising mental health professionals, for whom the rise in BMI disorders is partly attributed to an era of social media persona.

Hakim, R. F., Alrahmani, D. A., Ahmed, D. M., Alharthi, N. A., Fida, A. R., & Al-Raddadi, R. M. (2021). Association of body dysmorphic disorder with anxiety, depression, and stress among university students. Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences, 16(5), 689–694. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtumed.2021.05.008

This paper employs 1,112 students to estimate the levels of BDD and the extent of mental ill-health among university students across Saudi Arabia. It also reveals that a population sample recognizes BDD at 13.9 per cent, and a higher degree of depression, anxiety, and stress is comparatively higher in the subjects with BDD. This research proves that social networking, with an emphasis on the appearance of a perfect physical person, actually makes symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder worse and turns students against themselves. As shown in this study, BDD has severe psychological impacts. The study focuses on the psychological concerns of university students due to body image stress. Thus, such research requires that university mental health programs become acquainted with these matters and develop unique programs to minimize appearance-related affliction and enhance student welfare.