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
Authors: Sarpila Outi, Koivula Aki, Åberg Erica
Publisher: Turun ylioisto
Publishing place: Turku
Publication year: 2022
Series title: INVEST Working Papers
Number in series: 57
ISSN: 2737-0534
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31235/osf.io/9q7xj
Web address : https://osf.io/preprints/socarxiv/9q7xj
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/178349845
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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