The Effect of Appearance-Related Social Media Consciousness on Body Image, Internalization of Ideals, and Psychological Development in Adolescents

This study investigated the effects of appearance-related social media consciousness on body image, the internalization of ideals, and psychological development in adolescents. The research, conducted using the relational screening method, included adolescents aged 14-17 who were enrolled in high school. A total of 1641 students were included in the study, using maximum diversity and stratified sampling methods. The data collection instruments included the "Personal Information Form", "Internalization of Ideals", "Appearance-Related Social Media Consciousness", "Body Image", and "Psychological Development in Adolescence" scales. Data analysis was performed using SPSS. Correlation and regression analyses were performed to analyze the data. The research findings revealed a significant relationship between the general body image scores of adolescents and the general scores for psychological development and internalization of ideals. However, no relationship was observed between the general score of internalization of ideals received by adolescents and the general scores of psychological development. In conclusion, appearance-related social media consciousness in adolescents significantly predicts body image, internalization of ideals, and psychological development.