Correlates of Instagram Usage and Body Dissatisfaction among Undergraduate Students

Authors

  • Nor Aishah Yahya Department of Psychology and Counseling, Faculty of Human Development, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, 35900 Tanjung Malim, Perak, Malaysia
  • Nurul Ain Hidayah Abas Department of Psychology and Counseling, Faculty of Human Development, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, 35900 Tanjung Malim, Perak, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37134/ejoss.vol11.sp.3.2025

Keywords:

Instagram usage, body dissatisfaction, undergraduate students

Abstract

According to prior studies, massive Instagram usage can lead to body dissatisfaction, an alarming issue that has to be addressed. The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between Instagram usage and body dissatisfaction among Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) undergraduate students. This research employed a quantitative design. Data collection involved an online survey with 151 participants (n=36 males and 115 females), all of whom were undergraduate students. Data analysis was carried out using IBM SPSS Statistics 26. The results of Pearson's correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between Instagram usage and body dissatisfaction (r = .314, p < .05), which aligns with the findings in previous studies. The findings revealed that higher level of Instagram usage could lead to higher level of body dissatisfaction. This study encourages participants to track their Instagram usage and enhance their social media literacy skills by critically evaluating Instagram content.

Downloads

References

Alruwayshid, M., Alduraywish, S., Allafi, A., Alshuniefi, A., Alaraik, E., Alreshidi, F., Almughais, E., & Alruwayshid, N. (2021). The influence of social media on body dissatisfaction among college students. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 10(4), 1741-1746. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1529_20

Bennett, B. L., Whisenhunt, B. L., Hudson, D. L., Wagner, A. F., Latner, J. D., Stefano, E. C., & Beauchamp, M. T. (2019). Examining the impact of social media on mood and body dissatisfaction using ecological momentary assessment. Journal of American College Health, 68(5), 502-508. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2019.1583236

Cara, M. (2018). The semiotic layers of Instagram. The American Journal of Semiotics, 34(3), 331-352. https://doi.org/10.5840/ajs201931146

Digital Business Lab. (2022, July 27). Social media penetration in Malaysia. https://digital-business-lab.com/2022/07/%E2%91%A1-social-media- penetration-in-malaysia-research/

Evans, C., & Dolan, B. (1993). Body Shape Questionnaire: derivation of shortened "alternate forms". International Journal of Eating Disorders, 13(3), 315- 321. https://doi.org/10.1002/1098-108x(199304)13:3<315::aid- eat2260130310>3.0.co;2-3

Heider, N., Spruyt, A., & De Houwer, J. (2018). Body dissatisfaction revisited: On the importance of implicit beliefs about actual and ideal body image. Psychologica Belgica, 57(4), 158. https://doi.org/10.5334/pb.362

Jarrar, Y., Awobamise, A. O., & Nweke, G. E. (2022). The mediating effect of social anxiety on the relationship between social media use and body dissatisfaction among University students. Frontiers in Communication, 7, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2022.900257

Jiotsa, B., Naccache, B., Duval, M., Rocher, B., & Grall-Bronnec, M. (2021). Social media use and body image disorders: Association between frequency of comparing one’s own physical appearance to that of people being followed on social media and body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(6), 2880-2894. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18062880

Kuan, P. X., Ho, H. L., Shuhaili, M. S., Siti, A. A., & Gudum, H. R. (2011). Gender differences in body mass index, body weight perception and weight loss strategies among undergraduates in Universiti Malaysia Sarawak. Malaysian journal of nutrition, 17(1), 67–75

Michels, N., & Amenyah, S. (2017). Body size ideals and dissatisfaction in Ghanaian adolescents: Role of media, lifestyle and well-being. Public Health, 146, 65- 74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2017.01.006

Noor Azizi, N. A., Adnan, H. A., Roshaizad, N. A., Mohd. Hoesni, S., & Zainal, M. S. (2020). Penggunaan Media Sosial, Kebimbangan Imej Badan dan Tingkah Laku Kecelaruan Pemakanan dalam Kalangan Awal Dewasa. Jurnal Psikologi Malaysia, 34(4), 59- 71. http://spaj.ukm.my/ppppm/jpm/issue/view/41

Pedalino, F., & Camerini, A. L. (2022). Instagram use and body dissatisfaction: The mediating role of upward social comparison with peers and influencers among young females. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(3), 1543. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031543

Piccoli, V., Carnaghi, A., Grassi, M., & Bianchi, M. (2021). The relationship betweenInstagram activity and female body concerns: The serial mediating role of appearance‐related comparisons and internalization of beauty norms. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 32(4), 728-743. https://doi.org/10.1002/casp.2586

Rafati, F., Dehdashti, N., & Sadeghi, A. (2021). The relationship between Instagram use and body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness, and internalization of beauty ideals: A correlational study of Iranian women. Feminist Media Studies, 1- 17. https://doi.org/10.1080/14680777.2021.1979065

Simpson, A. R. (2018). Young adult development project. Welcome | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Human Resources. https://hr.mit.edu/static/worklife/youngadult/changes.html#text

Stein, J., Krause, E., & Ohler, P. (2021). Every (Insta)Gram counts? Applying cultivation theory to explore the effects of Instagram on young users’ body image. Psychology of Popular Media, 10(1), 87-97. https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000268

Trifiro, B. (2018). Instagram Use and Its Effect on Well-Being and Self-Esteem. [Master's thesis, Bryant University]. Bryant Digital Repository. https://digitalcommons.bryant.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1003&conte xt=macomm

Tuan Abd Aziz, T. N. A. S., & Shukri, M. (2019). Relationship between body dissatisfaction and eating disorder of University students. Universiti Malaysia Terengganu Journal of Undergraduate Research, 1(2), 36-40. https://doi.org/10.46754/umtjur.v1i2.64

Vuong, A. T., Jarman, H. K., Doley, J. R., & McLean, S. A. (2021). Social media useand body dissatisfaction in adolescents: The moderating role of thin- and muscular-ideal internalisation. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(24), 13222- 13236. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182413222

You, S., & Shin, K. (2020). Sociocultural influences, drive for thinness, drive for muscularity, and body dissatisfaction among Korean undergraduates. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(14), 5260-5270. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17145260

Downloads

Published

2024-03-25

How to Cite

Yahya, N. A., & Abas, N. A. H. (2024). Correlates of Instagram Usage and Body Dissatisfaction among Undergraduate Students. EDUCATUM Journal of Social Sciences, 11, 24-32. https://doi.org/10.37134/ejoss.vol11.sp.3.2025