Me, my selfie, and I: The relationship between editing and posting selfies and body dissatisfaction in men and women

Alexandra Rhodes Lonergan; Kay Bussey; Jonathan Mond; Olivia Brown; Scott Griffiths; Stuart B Murray; Deborah Mitchison

doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2018.12.001

Me, my selfie, and I: The relationship between editing and posting selfies and body dissatisfaction in men and women

Body Image. 2019 Mar:28:39-43. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2018.12.001. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Authors

Alexandra Rhodes Lonergan¹, Kay Bussey², Jonathan Mond³, Olivia Brown⁴, Scott Griffiths⁵, Stuart B Murray⁶, Deborah Mitchison⁷

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Emotional Health, Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: alexandra.lonergan@hdr.mq.edu.au.
² Centre for Emotional Health, Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
³ Centre for Rural Health, University of Tasmania, Australia; Centre for Health Research, University of Western Sydney, Australia.
⁴ Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
⁵ Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Australia; Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
⁶ Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, USA.
⁷ Centre for Emotional Health, Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia; School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Sydney Australia.

PMID: 30572289
DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2018.12.001

Abstract

Factors that promote versus protect against body dissatisfaction remain unclear. Social media may be a risk factor, particularly given ubiquitous engagement among young people, and the pervasive use of "selfies." Conversely, self-compassion has received attention as a protective factor against body dissatisfaction. This study examined: (a) the relationships between "manipulation" of selfies posted online, "investment" in others' responses to selfies, and body dissatisfaction; and (b) whether self-compassion moderated the relationships between social media variables and body dissatisfaction. Results from 184 Australian men (n = 89) and women (n = 95) suggested that social media variables photo manipulation and investment were associated with greater body dissatisfaction for both genders. Self-compassion did not moderate these relationships. Findings suggest that manipulation and concern about selfies posted may be risk correlates for body dissatisfaction in men and women. Further research is needed to investigate protective factors against body dissatisfaction in an online environment.

Keywords: Body image; Gender; Self-compassion; Selfies; Social media.

MeSH terms

Adult
Australia
Body Image / psychology*
Female
Humans
Male
Personal Satisfaction*
Photography
Self Concept*
Social Media*
Young Adult