Critical measurement issues in the assessment of social media influence on body image

Hannah K Jarman; Siân A McLean; Scott Griffiths; Samantha J Teague; Rachel F Rodgers; Susan J Paxton; Emma Austen; Emily Harris; Trevor Steward; Adrian Shatte; Long Khanh-Dao Le; Tarique Anwar; Cathrine Mihalopoulos; Alexandra G Parker; Zali Yager; Matthew Fuller-Tyszkiewicz

doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2021.12.007

Critical measurement issues in the assessment of social media influence on body image

Body Image. 2022 Mar:40:225-236. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2021.12.007. Epub 2022 Jan 13.

Authors

Hannah K Jarman¹, Siân A McLean², Scott Griffiths³, Samantha J Teague⁴, Rachel F Rodgers⁵, Susan J Paxton⁶, Emma Austen³, Emily Harris³, Trevor Steward³, Adrian Shatte⁷, Long Khanh-Dao Le⁸, Tarique Anwar⁹, Cathrine Mihalopoulos⁸, Alexandra G Parker¹⁰, Zali Yager¹¹, Matthew Fuller-Tyszkiewicz⁴

Affiliations

¹ School of Psychology, Deakin University, 1 Gheringhap Street, Geelong, Victoria, Australia; Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia. Electronic address: h.jarman@deakin.edu.au.
² The Bouverie Centre, School of Psychology & Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
³ Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁴ School of Psychology, Deakin University, 1 Gheringhap Street, Geelong, Victoria, Australia; Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia.
⁵ APPEAR, Department of Applied Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, USA; Department of Psychiatric Emergency & Acute Care, Lapeyronie Hospital, CHRU Montpellier, France.
⁶ School of Psychology & Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
⁷ School of Engineering, Information Technology & Physical Sciences, Federation University, Melbourne, Australia.
⁸ Deakin Health Economics, Institute for Health Transformation, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia.
⁹ Department of Computing Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia.
¹⁰ Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia; Orygen and Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Australia.
¹¹ Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia.

PMID: 35032949
DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2021.12.007

Abstract

Progress towards understanding how social media impacts body image hinges on the use of appropriate measurement tools and methodologies. This review provides an overview of common (qualitative, self-report survey, lab-based experiments) and emerging (momentary assessment, computational) methodological approaches to the exploration of the impact of social media on body image. The potential of these methodologies is detailed, with examples illustrating current use as well as opportunities for expansion. A key theme from our review is that each methodology has provided insights for the body image research field, yet is insufficient in isolation to fully capture the nuance and complexity of social media experiences. Thus, in consideration of gaps in methodology, we emphasise the need for big picture thinking that leverages and combines the strengths of each of these methodologies to yield a more comprehensive, nuanced, and robust picture of the positive and negative impacts of social media.

Keywords: Assessment; Body image; Computational modelling; Experimental; Measurement; Momentary assessment; Qualitative; Social media; Survey; Web scraping.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Body Image* / psychology
Humans
Social Media*