The Impact of Social Media on Youth Body Image Dissatisfaction: A Mixed-Methods Study

Background : The popularity of social media among the youths raises issues about its effects on body image dissatisfaction that may reduce self-esteem. The paper examines the connection between social media use and body image to guide the intervention of healthy self-perception. Methods : A quantitative approach with qualitative data utilized a survey of 55 participants (aged 18+) from diverse backgrounds to assess social media usage and body image perceptions. Focus groups and Qualitative observations were given through interviews. Descriptive statistics, t-tests and regression analysis were conducted analyzing the quantitative data. Thematic analysis was done on qualitative data analysis that helped them to determine key themes. Results : The vast majority of participants belonged to the age group of 18-24 (40.7%), with 31.5% aged 25-34, 20.4% aged 35-44, 5.6% aged 45-54, and 1.9% aged 55 and above, with 52.7% male and 47.3% female, and used Facebook 32.7%, Instagram 30.9%, TikTok 12.7%, Twitter 9.1%, Snapchat 1.8%, and Other 12.7%. The satisfaction (5-point scale) with body image reflected 7.3% Very Dissatisfied, 10.9% Dissatisfied, 20% Neutral, 21.8% Satisfied, and 40% Very Satisfied with a majority 61.8% reporting Satisfied or Very Satisfied. Regression analysis revealed that higher social media use was associated with lower body image satisfaction (p < 0.05). Unrealistic Qualitative themes also concentrated on topics such as Real-life experiences beauty ideals and social comparison and coping mechanisms such as social media restriction and subscribing to body-positive accounts. Conclusions : The use of social media is related to dissatisfaction with body image among young people, being motivated by image and comparison. Media should be encouraged by interventions literacy beliefs and different body representations. There is a need to decrease the adverse mental health impact of social media by utilizing public health measures. Registration of trial : N/A, since this is the study also failed to report the outcomes of health care intervention.