Self-esteem and social media addiction level in adolescents: The mediating

role of body image

✅ ABOUT THE ARTICLE

 Journal Name: Indian Journal of Psychiatry

 Published: May 2023, Volume 65, Issue 5, Pages 595–600
 Impact Factor: 2.0 (2024, Web of Science)
 Q Factor: Q3 (Psychiatry and Mental Health category)

INTRODUCTION

Self-esteem refers to the love, respect, and trust a person feels toward oneself by accepting and embracing their strengths. It
holds great importance during adolescence, a period when individuals seek answers about their identity. Self-image plays a key
role in shaping self-esteem, and many factors such as family, peers, academic success, and health influence it.

Social media, widely used by adolescents, allows interaction and identity formation but can lead to addiction. Studies show that
excessive use negatively affects academic performance, relationships, mental health, life satisfaction, and especially self-esteem.
Low self-esteem has been linked to high social media use.

Body image—how one feels about their physical appearance—also affects self-esteem. Adolescents with a positive body image
tend to have higher self-esteem. While some studies show negative effects of social media on self-esteem, others show positive
outcomes, suggesting mediating variables like body image may influence the relationship.

This study aims to explore the relationship between social media use and self-esteem in adolescents, focusing on the mediating
role of body image—a gap not fully explored in previous research. It is expected to contribute valuable insights to the
literature.

✅ AUTHORS

1. Mehmet Colak – Freelance Physician, Izmir, Turkey

2. Ozlem Sireli Bingol – Freelance Physician, Mugla, Turkey
3. Ali Dayi – Dept. of Psychiatry, Beykent University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
 ✅ OBJECTIVES

 To assess the relationship between social media addiction and self-esteem.

 To examine the mediating role of body image in that relationship.

✅ METHODOLOGY

 Design: Cross-sectional, correlational study

 Sample: Adolescents from Turkey
 Tools Used:
 Social Media Addiction Scale
 Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale
 Body Image Scale

Summary with Topics

 Self-Esteem

Self-esteem is the self-evaluation of one’s worth and competence. In adolescence, it develops from self-
perception, peer approval, and body image. High self-esteem is linked with confidence, while low self-
esteem is related to shame, anxiety, and social withdrawal.

 Social Media Addiction

Excessive and compulsive social media use affects real-life functioning. Adolescents addicted to
social media often seek validation,which creates pressure to present an ideal self. This can
lead to emotional dependence and reduced self-esteem when feedback is negative or absent.
 Body Image

Body image refers to thoughts, feelings, and evaluations of one’s own body. Social media promotes unrealistic
beauty standards, which cause adolescents to compare themselves and feel inadequate. A negative body
image is strongly associated with low self-esteem.

 Social Comparison & Validation

Adolescents often compare themselves with influencers or peers. Fewer likes or followers may lead to feelings
of inferiority. This constant comparison cycle lowers self-worth and may cause emotional distress.

 Shame & Appearance Anxiety

Shame arises when adolescents believe they don’t meet the societal or digital ideal. Body shame and
appearance anxiety intensify with negative feedback on social platforms, making them more vulnerable to self-
doubt.

2
  Mental Health Impact

High social media use and body dissatisfaction can result in:

1. Anxiety
2. Depression
3. Identity confusion
4. Poor emotional regulation
5. Loneliness and stress

 Protective Factors
Supportive family, self-acceptance, mindful social media use, and positive peer interactions can buffer the
harmful effects. Strengthening inner confidence and digital boundaries is key.

🧠 DISCUSSION

As per the results of this study, there was no significant relationship between the self-esteem levels of the
adolescents and their ages and the education levels of their parents. There was a negative significant
relationship between the self-esteem and social media addiction levels of the participants, while there was a
positive significant relationship between their self-esteem and body image levels.

As a result of the mediation analysis, the social media addiction levels of the participants were found to
negatively predict their self-esteem and body image levels. It was determined that body image had a partial
mediating effect in the relationship between self-esteem and social media addiction.

In studies examining the relationship between self-esteem and sociodemographic variables in adolescents, it
was found that self-esteem did not vary significantly based on age. In our study, in accordance with the
literature, no significant relationship was found between the self-esteem levels of the participants and their
age.

Studies have mostly shown a significant relationship between parental education levels and the self-esteem
levels of adolescents, and as the parental education levels increase, self-esteem levels also increase. In our
study, no significant relationship was found between the education levels of the parents of our participants
and the self-esteem levels of the participants. Our results, which were inconsistent with the literature, may
have occurred due to the small sample size.

It was shown that there is a correlation between self-esteem and social media use in adolescents. In a study
conducted by Woods and Scott with 467 adolescents, it was found that adolescents with high levels of social

3
 media use had low self-esteem. Jan et al. reported a negative correlation between the daily social media usage
times and self-esteem levels of their participants.

Thirty-three studies on the subject published between 2008 and 2016 were examined in a meta-analysis study
conducted by Liu and Baumeister. In the study, it was reported that there was a negative relationship between
social media use and self-esteem. In our study, it was found that the self-esteem and social media addiction
levels of the participants were negatively related. Additionally, it was determined that social media addiction
had a direct and significant effect on the self-esteem levels of the participants.

4
Statistical Analysis: Mediation analysis using SPSS

Results:

No significant relationship was found between the self-esteem levels of the participants and their ages or the
education levels of their parents. There was a negative moderate significant relationship between the self-esteem
levels of the participants and their social media addiction levels, and a positive moderate significant correlation
was found between their self-esteem levels and body images. It was found that the social media addiction levels of
the participants negatively predicted their self-esteem and body image levels. It was determined that body image
had a partial mediator effect on the relationship between the social media addiction and self-esteem levels of the
participants.

Conclusion:

Our results revealed that there is a negative correlation between self-esteem and social media addiction levels in
adolescents. Body image has a partial mediating role in the relationship between social media addiction and self-
esteem levels.

Keywords: Adolescence, body image, self-esteem, social media addiction

✅ LIMITATIONS

Conducted only in Turkey – may not generalize globally

Self-report measures may include bias

Cross-sectional design – causality cannot be confirmed

5
✅ IMPLICATIONS

The findings highlight the importance of addressing body image in interventions related to social media and
adolescent mental health.Parents, schools, and psychologists should foster positive body image to protect against
the harmful effects of excessive social media use.

 Reference:

1.Cuhadaroglu F

2.Cuhadaroglu Cetin F, Akdemir D.

3.Kaya N, Tastan N. A review on self-confidence.

6
7