The Impact of Facebook Usage on Young Women’s Body Satisfaction and Self Esteem Assignment
Added on 2020-10-05
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1308433“The impact of Facebook usage onyoung women’s body satisfaction andself-esteem”
1308433Background:Over the past decade, researchers focused their attention on investigating the humanbody image. After many years of research, according to Nuget (2018), the body image wasdescribed as people’s self-perception and feelings about the way their body looks like(Nuget,2018).The present investigation work is mainly conducted by me for the purpose analysing the study related with The impact of Facebook usage on young women’s body satisfaction and self-esteem. This is an original research which replicating the original study, in respect todeveloping my own knowledge base in the specified area of study. The mass media play an effective role in the communication of cultural stereotypes about the aesthetics of body image. The use of social media is pervasive and growing rapidly around the globe. Facebook is the most popular social media platform, In this modern scenario around 1.3 billion people are regular users of Facebook as people are spending huge amount of time on social media platforms. Social media use is particularly popular among young women, a demographic for which body dissatisfaction i.e., dissatisfaction with one’s current physical self is also particularly problematic. As per my views, Social comparison theory basically proposes that an individual havea drive to analyse their own progress and standing on different element of their lives and, in the absence of objective standards, people compare themselves to others to know where they stand among the public and Facebook now a day's is the most popular source which is widelyapplied by people to make connection among people at global level. According to sociocultural models of body image and disordered eating, body dissatisfaction can enhance when females and repeatedly compare their own appearance to the appearance of others women. As per my personal analysis, Indeed, research shows that women regularly evaluate their appearance by comparing themselves to others and that a greater tendency to engage in appearance comparisons is associated with a high level of body dissatisfaction. Nowadays, the advanced technology allows people to engage with the world aroundthrough social media. The social media was seen by the researchers as a start point to assesswhether there is a link between social networking usage and human’s body satisfaction. Toprovide an answer to this supposition, Fardouly& Vartanian (2015), conducted a research inwhich highlighted that social media is strongly related with body image dissatisfaction inyoung population (Fardouly&Vartanian,2015).A previous research by Paxton, Eisenberg & Neumark-Sztainer (2006) has alsosupported the idea that during the adolescent period, people but in special females areexperiencing a significant decrease in body image satisfaction, which may as well beaccompanied by eating disturbances (Paxton, Eisenberg & Neumark-Sztainer, 2006).The UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) (2018) reported that the social media is acrucial factor in young people’s lives. For instance, the national reports for the beginning of2018, showed that the total number of social media users reached over 39 million users("Home - Office for National Statistics", 2018). This can be translated into 58% of youngadult population, from which 67% reached by Facebook. ONS (2018) reported that this is amassive grown in social media users comparing with 2015’s reports ("Home - Office forNational Statistics", 2018).
1308433The social media users profile reported that the young adults have the highest rate ofpenetration, this recording even visiting social networking more than ten times a day ("Home- Office for National Statistics", 2018). Comparing the statistics reports from 2015 to 2018,ONS (2018) emphasised that young females are more likely to engage on social networkingand to have an active Facebook account ("Home - Office for National Statistics", 2018).Facebook is an online platform that permit to its users to customize their profiles withpictures and information about their selves which are exposed to their choice as public orsemi-public. The users are also allowed to post edited photos and even to monitor their self-exposure, a fact that means they can present a perfect version of them. Having said thesefacts, Haferkamp & Kramer (2011) found that the exposure of unrealistic pictures andprofiles on social media platforms, women tend to be negatively influenced on their self-evaluation and well-being, when comparing their selves with other people’s posts(Haferkamp& Kramer,2011)Chou & Edge (2012) reported that subjects who spent the most of their time onFacebook are under the impression that their lives are less happy than other users who areposting more frequently and have greater amounts of friends on Facebook (Chou & Edge,2012). They have also concluded that there are many other elements on Facebook, i.ecomments, that may negatively influence people’s body image satisfaction (Chou & Edge,2012).An experimental research by Mabe, Forney & Keel (2014) explored the impact ofFacebook on women’s body image. Their research was based to analyse whether theexposure to Facebook or to a neutral website may influence on women’s weight and shapepreoccupation. The findings showed that participants exposed to Facebook has decreased thepreoccupation of weight and shape. The subjects exposed to the controlled website had agreater decrease among participants’ preoccupation of weight and shape. A fact that leadauthors to suggests that Facebook usage in comparison to other website, maintainedparticipant’s preoccupation of their own body image. However, researchers suggested thatfurther research should establish the influence of Facebook on people’s preoccupation of theirappearance (Mabe, Forney & Keel, 2014) Under the same idea as Paxton, Eisenberg & Neumark-Sztainer (2006) ‘s study, theresearch conducted by Jacobi et al., 2004 suggested a strong connection between social mediausage and body image disturbance in young adults. As the findings by Jacobi et al., 2004proposed a significant link between body dissatisfaction and the usage of social media, it isperhaps essential to identify the triggers that contributes to a decrease satisfaction in females’body image. The recognition of these triggers may also be a key factor in the attempt toprevent body image disturbances in young females (Jacobi et al., 2004).Jacobi et al.,2004’s paper was supported by Thompson,Heinberg, Altabe&Tantleff-Dunn(1999) study which also supported the fact that social media is strongly correlated withfemale’s body satisfaction (Thompson,Heinberg, Altabe&Tantleff-Dunn,1999). The researchhighlighted that one of the biggest effects that media endeavour on females is thesociocultural constraint to ideal standards of beauty (Thompson,Heinberg, Altabe&Tantleff-Dunn ,1999). Another research by Keery, van den Berg &Thomson (2004) has also pointed out thatfemales are often striving to the thin ideal imposed by the social media and are resemble theirown appearance against it (Keery, van den Berg &Thomson,2004). A fact, that scientists are
1308433suggesting is frequently affecting female’s body satisfaction and self-esteem (Keery, van denBerg &Thomson 2004).The importance of the present research is to examine the effect of social media e.g.Facebook usage on young females’ body satisfaction, self-esteem and appearancecomparison. Previous research outlined that media has a strong impact on young populationbody satisfaction and related this with numerous disorders. This study will affirm whether theFacebook usage impacts on women’s body image and self-esteem.Theoretical framework:The present study is based on an integrative theoretical approach which includes thetheories that attempted to explain the media influences on human’s body satisfaction. Themost common frameworks being the sociocultural and objectification theories. Anothertheory which will also be used as a foundation for the present research is the socialcomparison theory.The sociocultural theory was discovered by Lev Vygotsky (1994), as a response tobehaviourism (Vygotsky,1994). The author suggested that this theory explains people’sbeliefs and mental abilities which may be influenced by the environment people are living inbut also by the way people are interacting with others (Vygotsky,1994).Vygotsky (1994) believed that human’s though process is relying on language andsocial interactions. He also suggested that the sociocultural theory is mainly based on: privatespeech, the make-believe game and the proximal development (Vygotsky,1994).More recent research highlighted that conform to the sociocultural theory, thecontemporary social media is presenting the thin beauty ideal especially to women(Thompson et al.,1999; Tiggeman,2011). However, the reports presented that despitenumerous attempts, most of the women are aspiring to the beauty ideals presented in onlineworld, experienced failures which lead eventually to body dissatisfaction (Tiggeman,2002;Thompson, 2004).The objectification theory is another framework used in the present paper meant toexplain the connection between social media and body image satisfaction in females.According to Frederickson& Roberts (1997), the objectification theory assumes that thefemale body was socially constructed as an object to admired and examined based on itsappearance. For instance, the women body is frequently exposed in social media with sexualpresentation. Frederickson & Roberts (1997) noted that because of this reason, female tend toadopt an acculturate attitude to their own bodies. Frederickson & Roberts (1997) supportedthat frequent body examination has led to both body dissatisfaction and shame or anxiety(Frederickson & Roberts,1997).Festinger (1954) explained that the social comparison theory assumes that people areoften evaluating their own progress upon different aspects and in the absence of objectiveideals, they tend to compare their selves to others (Festinger,1954). In fact, previous researchdemonstrated that women are more likely to compare their own appearance to other and thisfact was linked with greater body dissatisfaction (Leahey, Crowther& Mickleson,2007).According to my own observation, Body image reduces significantly duringadolescences as per the results in wide spread body dissatisfaction and related to eatingdisturbances, specially among adult females. This is essential factor which contribute to
1308433decrease in girls body satisfaction in order to make improvement prevention and earlyinterference efforts target to highly vulnerable groups. The mass media effects research hasmainly focused and it is directly impact on television and magazines influence which is lessmeasured. Female internalise this thin ideal and compare their own bodies against it which isoften lead towards body dissatisfaction and it drives for thinness when they meet withunrealistic standard. Aims and ObjectivesThe present paper aims to investigate whether the social networking use e.g. Facebook (FB) may influence young female’s body satisfaction, self-esteem and appearance comparison. The main purpose of my original research is to identify if FB use has a positive or a negative impact on the participants’ body satisfaction. This study will also assess if age, ethnicity or body index (BMI) may impact on FB users’ body satisfaction. Body Mass Index (BMI) or Quetelet index is considered as a value derived through the mass and height of an individual. The BMI is refers as the body mass which is divided throughout the square of the body height, and is universally expressed in units of kg/m², that are resulting from mass in kilograms and height in metres. BMI is a screening tool which can reflect an individual is healthy weight, underweight, over weight or obesity. If in case an individual's BMI is above from the health range, their health risk can be developed significantly and this has direct impact on the living of people. BMI is needed to analysing the relationship between body weight and height. It is not a direct measure of excess body fat, it majorly reflects the weight-height relationship and provides a more accurate measure than body weight alone. Now a day's people are facing issues related with body shape and over weight, especially woman's are very much concern about their weight and body shape, Thus BMI is required for each individual to know about the health condition. However BMI is needed to know about the actual health condition of people. This is also required to control the extra body fat and extra thinness of an individual. The hypotheses and the research questions of this study are as follows:Q1: Is there an impact of Facebook usage and young women’s body satisfaction and self-esteem?H1: Higher Facebook use for dysfunctional hours will have a positive impact on women’sbody satisfaction, self-esteem.Ho: Higher Facebook use for dysfunctional hours will have a negative impact onwomen’s body satisfaction, self-esteem.Q2: Does Facebook usage influence young females to compare one’s own appearance to theappearance of others?H1: Facebook usage will have a profound influence on appearance comparison.Ho: Facebook usage is not associated with women’s appearance comparison.RESEARCH METHODOLOGYResearch Design:The present research is based on a original research which is conducted by me todevelop my knowledge base in the area of an investigation work. My research paper is aquantitative research; therefore, a cross-sectional survey design will be used to examine the
1308433Facebook’s influence on female’s body image. According to Trochim & Donelly (2008), thecross-sectional design is the most appropriate design to use in quantitative research, as it isless time consuming than a longitudinal design (Trochim & Donelly,2008). The independentvariables of this research are: body satisfaction, self-esteem and appearance comparison. Thedependent variables are: age, height, weight, ethnicity. Research design is the whole strategywhich are select for integrated various elements of the study in coherent and logical manner.Thus it will ensure that it is effectively address the research problems and it is constituentsblueprint for collection, measurement and analyse data and information. A research design isthe arrangement of conditions for collection and analysis of data in proper manner whichmain aim is to combine relevance to the investigation purpose with economic procedure.There are mainly two types of research design which includes descriptive and experimental.In descriptive research design, a researcher is solely interested in explaining the condition orsituation under specific study. This is theory based research design that is developed bygathering, analysing and representing data collection. On the other hand, experimentalresearch design is used for establishing a relationship between causes and effect of particularsituation. It is causal research design that is impact caused by independent variable ondependent variable is observed. For appropriately analysing my own study, descriptive designis used by me for collecting and gathering accurate data and information in better manner. Participants: A minimum of 108 participants will be recruited to take part of this research. Thesample will only consist of young females aged between 18-30 years. The subjects will berecruited from social media i.e. Facebook. The inclusion criteria states that all participantsrecruited should have an active Facebook account accessed in the last month, females agedbetween 18 to 30 years old.Participants will also be given a participant’s information form,which will concisely provide information about the research, a consent form which will allowparticipants to express their willingness to be part of the research. and a debrief form. Theresearcher select participants who are between age of 18-30 and they are choose only femalemembers. It is required for investigator is to select such female or women who are active onFacebook account and give specific answer of each question. This is important for me is toselect female member on the basis of age, interest, choice, height and weight. Once theparticipant’s information form read and link accessed, then a consent form will follow, whichallows the participant to give permission to use their responses for the research purposes. Ifthe participants are signing the consent form, then the next page will askthem to completethe demographic questionnaire followed by me in my own consideration. Materials:To investigate the Facebook usage impact on young female’s body satisfaction, self-esteem and appearance comparison the following designed questionnaires will be used:The 5-item Sociocultural Internalization of Appearance Questionnaire (SIAQ) will beused to examine the internalization of the thin ideal. The SIAQ will assess whetherthe women are adopting the media- presented appearance ideals for themselves(Appendix 3.3)The assessment of the tendency to compare one’s own personality to the appearanceof other, will be conducted using the Physical Appearance Comparison Scale (PACS)(Appendix 3.4)
1308433To examine how women are feeling about their weight, the 8-item WeightSatisfaction subscale of Body-Esteem Scale for Adults (BES) was used(Appendix3.5)Participants’ fear of being fat was examined using a 7-item Drive for Thinness(Appendix3.8)Rosenberg Self-Esteem Questionnaire and Female Body Image will be used toexamine participants’ self-esteem and body satisfaction (Appendix 3.6 and 3.2)The social media usage i.e. Facebook will be measured using a Facebookquestionnaire (FBQ), which was created by Meir and Gray (2013) as tool ofmeasurement in their research (Meier& Gray,2013) (Appendix 3.7)To measure demographics and body index participants will be requested to provideinformation on: age, height, weight and ethnicity. (Appendix 3.1)
1308433DATA ANALYSISDemographic Questionnaire InterpretationsPlease state your ethnicity by choosing one of the followingWhile gaining knowledge about the particular topic. It has been analysed thatmaximum number of the chose people belongs to White British ethnicity as research isgathered into that particular area. Female Body Image InterpretationsOn the basis of collected information from the respondents, it has been analysed thatcurrent body size of maximum respondents contain fat as their eating culture contains lots offat. Whereas while understanding perspective of individual it has identified that majority ofpeople wishes to get ideal figure which does not even contain fat and looks fabulous.Furthermore, this shows positive influence of individuals towards the fat free figure whichlooks good to all. Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire- InterpretationsWhile collecting information related to sociocultural attitudes towards the appearance,it has been identified that information of individuals are bifurcated on the basis of 5dimensions such as Definitely disagree, mostly Disagree, Neither AgreeNor Disagree,Mostly Agree and Definitely Agree. While looking at the different perspective ofrespondents, it has been analysed that maximum number of respondents thinks that TVprograms are seen as the effective source through which information related to fashion istransmitted to the individuals. Along with this, some groups have also stated that TVprograms and magazines builds pressure on individuals to reduce their weight in order to looksimilar like TV personalities. Whereas, another group have agreed to the statement that theyconstancy agrees their own body with the figure of TV personalities at every time they seethem. Some people have also said that they are not even bothered about their figure as theyare satisfied with their own body shape. The statements of people also believes that TVcommercials are considered as the important source of information through which people getsknowledge about latest fashion.The overall interpretation of this questionnaire revolves around sociocultural attitudesof people towards their figure or physical appearance. While discussing on the music videoson TV it has been analysed that very few people from the overall respondents thinks that theyare getting updates related to fashion from these videos. In addition to this, many of therespondents also feels that they get motivation from TV stars in order to shape up their bodyeffectively. Along with this, maximum people thinks that individuals feels pressurize at thetime of taking their daily meals. Apart from this, the overall evaluation was not onlydeveloped on the basis of actresses but it was also formulated on the basis of athletes. In this,it has been identified that maximum number of people have denied to the thought they arecomparing their body with athletes. These respondents have also further stated that they donot even tries to change their look like sports athletes. This is because, they clearly believesthat sports personalities owes good body appearance but still common person especiallyfemales gives preference to TV actresses as according to them, TV personalities are moreattractive in comparison of athletes. From overall evaluation a major group of respondentshave clearly depicted that they are getting information of fashion updates fro famous
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