Research Methodology 1

Article review

Submitted by

Habiba Noor 01-171202-026

Sana Khadim 01-171202-026

BS Psychology 7C

Submitted to

Arooj Mujeeb

Bahria university Islamabad campus E8

 Research Idea
The Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Self-esteem and Body Image."

Article No 1

Social media, body satisfaction and well-being among adolescents: A mediation model of
appearance-ideal internalization and comparison body image.pdf

Despite adolescents’ prolific use of social media, relationships between social media and body
satisfaction and well-being are not yet well understood, especially among boys. This study tested
a sociocultural model of body image within the context of social media among adolescent boys
and girls. Specifically,this Study examined whether appearance-ideal internalization and social
appearance comparison mediated relationships between social media engagement (intensity and
appearance-focused use) and body satisfaction and subjective well-being. Australian adolescents
between 11 and 17 years (N = 1,579, Mage = 13.45 years, SD = 1.15; 55.4 % boys) completed an
online survey. Structural equational modelling indicated
that only higher appearance-focused social media use was directly associated with lower body
satisfaction and well-being. Generally, higher appearance-ideal internalization and comparisons
mediated
the relationships between higher social media engagement and lower body satisfaction and well-
being.
Multi-group analyses indicated these relationships were equivalent across gender. Findings
supported
the proposed model among boys and girls and extend existing theoretical knowledge to
encompass male
body image and well-being. Interventions which target internalization and comparisons in the
context
of social media are likely to be valuable in improving body satisfaction and subjective well-being
in
co-educational setting

Research Finding

The current study's findings have theoretical and practical implication. Our findings support the use
of a modified version of the tripartite influence model as a valuable framework for understanding
the mechanisms behind the links between social media use and body satisfaction and well-being.
Furthermore, the current study successfully modified and extended this model to include well-
being, and findings suggest that inconsistent relationships between social media use and well-being
(Best et al., 2014; Erfani & Abedin, 2018) may be explained by mechanisms, specifically social and
appearance comparisons and, to a lesser extent, internalization. In practice, because the final model
is mostly similar across gender, prevention and intervention activities in co-educational settings are
likely to be both required and appropriate. Furthermore, our data imply that interventions should
address social media intensity and appearance-focused use, rather than just time spent on social
media

Scales

Social media intensity and salience was assessed with four items from the Facebook Intensity Scale
(Ellison et al., 2007)

A modified version of the Body Shape Satisfaction Scale (Pingitore, Spring, & Garfield, 1997)

The Appearance Esteem sub-scale of the Body Esteem Scale (Mendelson, Mendelson, &White,
2001)

Two-items from the Weight and Shape sub scales of the Eating Disorder Examination
Questionnaire (EDE-Q; Fairburn & Beglin, 1994)

The 5-item Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diener, Emmons, Larsen, & Griffin, 1985)

Internalization of the thin-ideal was assessed using the Thin/Low Body Fat sub scale of the
Sociocultural Attitudes towards Appearance Questionnaire-4 (SATAQ-4; Schaefer et al., 2015)

Muscular sub scale of the SATAQ-4R-Male (Schaefer, Harriger, Heinberg, Soderberg, &
Thompson, 2017)

Five items from the Upward Physical Appearance Comparison Scale (O’Brien et al., 2009)

Scale and Modalities of measurement

Self-report Measures:
1. Social Media Intensity and Salience (Four items from the Facebook Intensity Scale - Ellison et
al., 2007):
- Modality: Self-report measure
 - Participants report on their own social media engagement and experiences.

2. Body Shape Satisfaction (Modified version of the Body Shape Satisfaction Scale - Pingitore,
Spring, & Garfield, 1997)
- Modality: Self-report measure
- Participants report on their level of satisfaction with different aspects of their body shape.

3. Appearance Esteem (Appearance Esteem sub-scale of the Body Esteem Scale - Mendelson,
Mendelson, & White, 2001)
- Modality: Self-report measure
- Participants report on their feelings about various aspects of their physical appearance.

4. Weight and Shape Concerns (Two items from the Weight and Shape sub scales of the EDE-Q
- Fairburn & Beglin, 1994)
- Modality: Self-report measure
- Participants report on their thoughts and concerns about their weight and shape.

5. Life Satisfaction (5-item Satisfaction with Life Scale - Diener, Emmons, Larsen, & Griffin,
1985)
- Modality: Self-report measure
- Participants report on their overall life satisfaction.

6. Internalization of the Thin-Ideal (Thin/Low Body Fat sub scale of the SATAQ-4 - Schaefer et
al., 2015):
- Modality: Self-report measure
- Participants report on their agreement with statements about societal standards for body
appearance.

7. Muscle Idealization (Muscular sub scale of the SATAQ-4R-Male - Schaefer, Harriger,

Heinberg, Soderberg, & Thompson, 2017)
Modality: Self-report measure
 - Participants report on their thoughts and feelings about muscularity and body image standards
for males.

8. Physical Appearance Comparison (Five items from the Upward Physical Appearance
Comparison Scale - O’Brien et al., 2009)
- Modality: Self-report measure
- Participants report on how often they compare their physical appearance to others.

Limitations

This study presents a novel examination of the tripartite influence model in a social media context
among a large sample of both adolescent boys and girls. However, several constraints must be
considered. Because the data were cross-sectional, the interpretation of causality was limited.
Despite this, the reverse model's fit indices indicated poor fit, providing some support for the
direction of relationships. Future prospective and experimental methods should investigate the
causality of the proposed relationships, taking into account the possibility that the relationships are
reciprocal. Finally, while our adolescent sample was large enough to test a detailed model and had
enough power to detect small effects, it was composed of a homogeneous group of Australian
students from high socioeconomic backgrounds, which may limit generalization. Furthermore,
because adolescents differ developmental from younger children and adults, these findings may not
be generalize across these populations and warrant further investigation.

Article No 02

Associations between social media, adolescent mental health, and diet: A systematic review

Obesity Reviews - 2023 - Blanchard - Associations between social media adolescent mental health and diet
A systematic (1).pdf

Summary
Social media use is integral to many adolescents' lives. It brings benefits but can also
have detrimental effects on both physical and mental health. We conducted a sys
tematic review examining associations between social media use, adolescent mental
health (including body image, self-esteem, stress, interpersonal relationships and
 loneliness, anxiety, and depressive symptoms), and dietary outcomes. Quantitative
studies published between 2019 and 2023 investigating both mental health and diet
were searched in 11 databases. The risk of bias was appraised using ROBINS-E. Data
were narratively synthesized by type of association, PROGRESS-Plus health equity
characteristics, and related to social media influencers. Twenty-one studies were
included, of which only one focused on influencers. Sex/gender was the only equity
characteristic assessed (n = 8), with mixed results. The findings suggest significant
positive correlations between social media use and both depressive and disordered
eating symptoms, body dissatisfaction, and anxiety. Four studies identified body
image, self-esteem, or anxiety as moderators acting between social media exposure
and dietary outcomes. Policy interventions mitigating the impact of social media on
adolescents—particularly body image and disordered eating—are needed, alongside
follow-up studies on causal pathways, the role of influencers, equity impacts, dietary
intake, and the best measurement tools to use.

Research Finding

Our findings suggest that policy interventions be used to reduce the impact of social media on
teenage mental health and diet, specifically body image and DE. They also emphasize the
significance of including adolescents in the development of research hypotheses. Follow-up studies
are needed to investigate causal pathways, dietary intake, and equity impacts on various population
characteristics, such as age and low- and middle-income countries, as well as a consensus on the
most valid and reliable measuring tools for body image and DE symptoms. Finally, this study notes
numerous studies' oversimplification of social media exposure, as well as a lack of research interest
in social media influences and celebrities. As platforms become more sophisticated and allow for a
wider range of applications, outlining the influence of specific content exposures and experiences,
rather than just time spent on social media or disordered use, might aid in the development of more
precise guidelines for preserving the health of teenagers.

Scales
Body image (14 tools in n = 11 studies)

Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults (n = 2)

Body Appreciation Scale (n = 1)

Body Change Inventory (n = 1)

Body Image Scale (n = 1)

Body Shape Questionnaire (n = 2)

Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (n = 1)

Objectified Body Consciousness Scale (n = 1)

Physical Appearance Comparison Scale-Revised (n = 1)

Social Appearance Anxiety Scale (n = 1)

Sociocultural Attitudes towards Appearance Questionnaire (versions 3 and 4) (n = 3)

Upward Physical Appearance Comparison Scale (n = 1)

Questionnaire designed specifically for the study (n = 1)

Questionnaire for the study via a structured interview (n = 1)

Anxiety (five tools in n = 5 studies)

Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (n = 1)

K10 Psychological Distress Scale (n = 1)

Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale (n = 1)

Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (n = 1)

Youth Self-report 11–18 Questionnaire (n = 1)

Depressive symptoms (eight tools in n = 9 studies)

Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-revised version for adolescents (n = 1)

Depression Self-rating Scale for Children (n = 1)

Hopkins Symptom Checklist (n = 1)

K10 Psychological Distress Scale (n = 1)

Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale (n = 1)

Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (n = 2)

Youth Self-report 11–18 Questionnaire (n = 1)

Questionnaire designed specifically for the study (n = 1)

Self-esteem (two tools in n = 3 studies)

Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (n = 2)

Single-Item Self Esteem Scale (n = 1)

Stress (one tool in n = 1 study)

Questionnaire designed specifically for the study (n = 1)

Interpersonal relationships (two tools in n = 2 studies)

Friends and Family Interview (n = 1)

Questionnaire designed specifically for the study (n = 1)

DE symptoms (12 tools in n = 13 studies)

Binge Eating Scale (n = 1)

Bulimic Investigatory Test (n = 1)

Children's Eating Attitude Test (n = 1)

Developmental and Well-being Assessment (n = 1)

Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (n = 1)

Eating Attitudes Test-26 (n = 4)

Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDEQ, n = 2)

Orthorexia Nervosa Scale (n = 1)

Project EAT (n = 1)

Sick, Control, One stone, Fat, Food Questionnaire (n = 1)

Questionnaire using items from EDEQ, Night Eating Questionnaire and additional questions (n =
1)

Questionnaire designed specifically for the study (n = 1)

Other dietary outcomes (six tools in n = 8 studies)

Emotional Eating Scale for Children and Adolescents (n = 3)

Food consumption patterns with questionnaires designed for each study (n = 3)

Intuitive Eating Scale (i.e., respecting hunger and satiety cues) (n = 1)

Food choices, nutrient consumption, and nutritional knowledge with a questionnaire for the study
via a structured interview (n = 1)

Limitations

We conducted a systematic review of the literature on the links between adolescent mental health
and diet and social media exposure. Overall, there is evidence of a link between social media use
and both depressive and general DE symptoms, as well as body dissatisfaction and DE in
general. There is also evidence of associations between social media use and body
dissatisfaction, anxiety, compulsive overeating, and weight loss/control behaviors with a high
risk of bias. High bias risks were attributed primarily to a lack of information regarding missing
data handling and a lack of control for relevant confounders. Evidence for self-esteem, stress,
interpersonal relationships, and all other dietary outcomes is limited, mixed, or lacking. Body
image, self-esteem, and anxiety have been identified as potential mediators of social media use
and dietary outcomes (including binge eating, DE in general, recognizing hunger and satiety
cues, and emotional eating). Except for social media exposure and both body image and a
depressive symptom, where evidence was mixed, evidence by gender/sex group was mostly
limited to one or two studies for each association. Three Australian studies, however, show that
social media is associated with several DE symptoms in both sex/gender groups, either directly
or indirectly. Primary studies should consider health equity more systematically and beyond
sex/gender to inform decisions for different population subgroups.

Scale and Modalities of measurement

Self-report Measures:
1. **Body Image:**
- Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults
- Body Appreciation Scale
- Body Change Inventory
- Body Image Scale
- Body Shape Questionnaire
- Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire
- Objectified Body Consciousness Scale
- Physical Appearance Comparison Scale-Revised
- Social Appearance Anxiety Scale
- Sociocultural Attitudes towards Appearance Questionnaire (versions 3 and 4)
- Upward Physical Appearance Comparison Scale
- Questionnaire designed specifically for the study
- Questionnaire for the study via a structured interview

2. Anxiety:
- Depression Anxiety Stress Scale
- K10 Psychological Distress Scale
- Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale
- Spence Children's Anxiety Scale
- Youth Self-report 11–18 Questionnaire

3. Depressive Symptoms:
- Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-revised version for adolescents
 - Depression Self-rating Scale for Children
- Hopkins Symptom Checklist
- K10 Psychological Distress Scale
- Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale
- Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire
- Youth Self-report 11–18 Questionnaire
- Questionnaire designed specifically for the study

4. Self-esteem:
- Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale
- Single-Item Self Esteem Scale

5. Stress:
- Questionnaire designed specifically for the study

6. Interpersonal Relationships:
- Friends and Family Interview
- Questionnaire designed specifically for the study

7. DE Symptoms:
- Binge Eating Scale
- Bulimic Investigatory Test
- Children's Eating Attitude Test
- Developmental and Well-being Assessment
- Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire
- Eating Attitudes Test-26
- Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDEQ)
- Orthorexia Nervosa Scale
 - Project EAT
- Sick, Control, One stone, Fat, Food Questionnaire
- Questionnaire using items from EDEQ, Night Eating Questionnaire, and additional questions
- Questionnaire designed specifically for the study
Physiological Measures:
- **No specific physiological measures were mentioned in your provided list.** However, in
studies related to stress or anxiety, physiological measures could include heart rate, skin
conductance, cortisol levels, or other indicators of physiological arousal.

Behavioral Measures:
1. Body Image:
- Behavioral indicators during interviews or structured tasks

2. Anxiety:
- Observable behaviors associated with anxiety during interviews or structured tasks

3. Depressive Symptoms:
- Observations of behavioral indicators during interviews or activities that may reveal
depressive symptoms

4. Self-esteem:
- Observations of behaviors that may reflect self-esteem during interviews or social
interactions

5. Stress:
- Observations of stress-related behaviors during interviews or specific stress-inducing tasks

6. Interpersonal Relationships:
- Observations of interpersonal behaviors during interviews or interaction tasks
7. DE Symptoms:
- Observations of specific eating behaviors, attitudes, or rituals during interviews or structured
eating tasks