Date of Award
1-1-2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A. in Psychology
First Advisor
John Young
Second Advisor
Kristin Austin
Third Advisor
Sarah Bilsky
Relational Format
dissertation/thesis
Abstract
Body dissatisfaction is becoming an increasingly pervasive problem among young adults, presenting severe implications including the onset of eating disorders and related behaviors. This alarming trend can be attributed, at least in part, to the ubiquity and influence of social media platforms, which serve as a modern catalyst for appearance pressures. While there is a substantial body of research establishing the connection between body dissatisfaction and traditional social media, the examination of newer platforms like TikTok, which have become highly popular among young adults, remains limited. As such, the present study aimed to bridge this gap by investigating the relationship between TikTok use and body dissatisfaction among young adult men and women. Drawing on the Tripartite Influence Model, the current study hypothesized that TikTok use will show significant associations with appearance-ideal internalization, appearance comparisons, and body dissatisfaction. Specifically, elevated TikTok use was anticipated to correlate with increased body dissatisfaction, mediated by appearance-ideal internalization and appearance comparisons. Gender was also expected to play a moderating role in these relationships. Undergraduate students (N = 861; 79.9% female) completed a survey assessing their TikTok use, appearance-ideal internalization, appearance comparisons, and body dissatisfaction. Corroborating these hypotheses, the study's findings indicated that TikTok use was positively associated with indicators of body dissatisfaction. Mediation analyses established that thin-ideal internalization and upward appearance comparison act as significant mediators in the relationship between TikTok use and body dissatisfaction. Contrary to expectations, however, muscular-ideal internalization did not mediate this relationship, and no significant gender-specific mediating effects were observed. These results suggest that while TikTok use is implicated in the propagation of body dissatisfaction among young adults, the mediating pathways of this influence are not distinctly moderated by gender. This novel contribution to the body of research on social media and body image offers valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying body dissatisfaction in the digital era, providing a foundation for the development of targeted interventions.
Recommended Citation
Pruett, Madeline, "From Likes to Looks: The Relationship Between TikTok Use and Body Satisfaction in a Young Adult Population" (2024). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2864.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/2864