The Relationships between BMI, Facebook Social Comparison, Body Shape Concerns and Social Physique Anxiety in Female Undergraduates

Aston, Emily (2018) The Relationships between BMI, Facebook Social Comparison, Body Shape Concerns and Social Physique Anxiety in Female Undergraduates. Manchester Metropolitan University. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Negative social comparison often takes place online, due to easily accessible social networking sites, this along with negative perceptions of one’s own physique have been identified to negatively impact an individual’s health. The current study aimed to target Social Physique Anxiety and investigate the relationship it may have with BMI, Body Shape Concerns and Facebook Social Comparison along with Facebook Intensity. Thus, building on previous research in relation to our perceptions of our physique, how we perceive others evaluate our physique online using social networking sites, and our Social Physique Anxiety levels. This study is unique in the variables it investigates, addressing various different factors that may affect Social Physique Anxiety. This study recruited 107 female students, ages 18-33, to participate in a set of online self-report questionnaires that produced a total score for each variable. Pearson’s correlation coefficient revealed correlations between each variable and Social Physique Anxiety, with the exception of Facebook Intensity. The regression analysis however identified Body Shape Concerns as the only significant predictor of Social Physique Anxiety.