Keywords
Psicología del ciclo vital y la familia, Redes sociales, Autoestima, Ansiedad, Trastornos de la conducta alimentaria, Experimento, Social media, Self-esteem, Anxiety, Eating disorders, Experiment.
Effect of exposure to thinness ideals in social networks on self-esteem and anxiety
Abstract
El uso de redes sociales está relacionado con la aparición de trastornos de la conducta
alimentaria (TCA). Hemos evaluado experimentalmente el efecto de la exposición a redes
sociales e imágenes estereotípicas del ideal de delgadez sobre la sintomatología de TCA,
analizando el papel mediador de la ansiedad. Trescientos veintiún adultos jóvenes (166
mujeres) fueron asignados aleatoriamente a dos condiciones: de alta y baja carga comparativa
con el ideal de delgadez. Encontramos una diminución de la autoestima en el grupo expuesto a
imágenes de carga comparativa alta y un aumento de la ansiedad. El efecto de las imágenes
sobre la autoestima está completamente mediado por el incremento en la ansiedad. No se
encontraron cambios en la satisfacción corporal o la obsesión por la delgadez. Nuestro estudio
muestra cómo la exposición breve a imágenes y perfiles representativos del ideal de delgadez
parece tener un efecto sobre la autoestima de los participantes. Estos resultados evidencian la
necesidad de dar a conocer las posibles consecuencias de las redes sociales, así como de
promover un uso sano de las mismas.
Social networks use is related to the occurrence of eating disorders (ED). In this study, we experimentally evaluated the effect of exposure to social networks and stereotypical images of the thinness ideal on ED symptomatology, and analyzed the mediator role of anxiety in this process. A sample of 321 young adults of both sexes (166 females) were randomly assigned to two experimental conditions: high and low exposure to the thin ideal. Our results indicate a decrease in self-esteem in the group exposed to the thin images and an increase in anxiety. We found the effect of the images on self-esteem is completely mediated by the increase in anxiety. No changes in body satisfaction or drive for thinness were found. Our study shows how brief exposure to images and profiles representative of the thin ideal seems to influence participants' self-esteem. These results show the need to raise awareness of the possible consequences of social media, as well as to promote a healthy use of social networks
Social networks use is related to the occurrence of eating disorders (ED). In this study, we experimentally evaluated the effect of exposure to social networks and stereotypical images of the thinness ideal on ED symptomatology, and analyzed the mediator role of anxiety in this process. A sample of 321 young adults of both sexes (166 females) were randomly assigned to two experimental conditions: high and low exposure to the thin ideal. Our results indicate a decrease in self-esteem in the group exposed to the thin images and an increase in anxiety. We found the effect of the images on self-esteem is completely mediated by the increase in anxiety. No changes in body satisfaction or drive for thinness were found. Our study shows how brief exposure to images and profiles representative of the thin ideal seems to influence participants' self-esteem. These results show the need to raise awareness of the possible consequences of social media, as well as to promote a healthy use of social networks
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Materias, derechos, colecciones e identificadores
URI / Handle
https://doi.org/10.51668/bp.8322305nRights
Creative Commons Reconocimiento-NoComercial-SinObraDerivada España