The Relationship Between Adolescent Social Media Use and Body Esteem: The Mediating Role of Self- Concept Clarity

Journal: Region - Educational Research and Reviews DOI: 10.32629/rerr.v6i8.2491

Jie Huang

College of Management, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering

Abstract

Extensive social media use significantly affects adolescents' body esteem. Self-concept clarity, referring to a clear and stable understanding of one’s identity, is crucial for mental health and may mediate the relationship between social media use and body esteem. This study aims to investigate the relationship between social media use intensity and body esteem in adolescents, along with the mediating role of self-concept clarity. A survey of 500 students from a university in Guangdong Province was conducted using the Social Networking Sites Usage Intensity Scale, the Body-Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults, and the Self-Concept Clarity Scale. Data were analyzed with regression analysis and mediation effect tests. Results indicated that social media use intensity was significantly negatively correlated with body esteem and self-concept clarity. Additionally, self-concept clarity mediates the relationship between social media use and body esteem. These findings suggest that self-concept clarity significantly influences adolescents' body esteem, and interventions should focus on enhancing self-concept clarity to improve body esteem.

Keywords

adolescents, social media use, body esteem, self-concept clarity

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