D4 Published development or research report or study

Did the pandemic increase social media-induced appearance pressures? A longitudinal analysis of social media caused appearance-related pressures before and during the Covid-19 pandemic




AuthorsSarpila Outi, Koivula Aki, Åberg Erica

PublisherTurun ylioisto

Publishing placeTurku

Publication year2022

Series titleINVEST Working Papers

Number in series57

ISSN2737-0534

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.31235/osf.io/9q7xj

Web address https://osf.io/preprints/socarxiv/9q7xj

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/178349845


Abstract

Has the use of social media intensified and increased appearance-related pressures during the Covid-19 pandemic? A growing body of research has suggested that body image concerns and disordered eating have increased during the Covid-19 pandemic. One of the potential pathways includes an increase in social media use. However, examinations of this pathway have been limited because of the lack of longitudinal data. Drawing on a four-wave population-based survey, we demonstrate that social media-based appearance pressures did not increase at the beginning of the pandemic, but rather at the later stage, and among women only. However, the changes in social media use do not explain this subtle increase. These findings suggest that other pathways than intensified use of social media might be more useful in explaining increased appearance-related pressures during the Covid-19 pandemic.


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Last updated on 2024-26-11 at 11:33