Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Body talk on social networking sites and body dissatisfaction among young women: A moderated mediation model of peer appearance pressure and self-compassion

  • Published:
Current Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The present study explored whether engaging in body talk on social networking sites (SNS) was positively related to young women’s body dissatisfaction and whether this relationship was mediated by peer appearance pressure. We also examined whether this indirect relationship would be moderated by self-compassion. The model was tested with 413 Chinese young women who completed questionnaires regarding SNS body talk, peer appearance pressure, self-compassion, and body dissatisfaction. Results indicated that SNS body talk was positively associated with body dissatisfaction and this association was mediated by peer appearance pressure. Furthermore, self-compassion moderated the indirect link between SNS body talk and body dissatisfaction via peer appearance pressure. Findings from this study extend research on the relationship between SNS use and body image and indicate the potential protecting role of self-compassion in the prevention of body image concerns.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Albertson, E. R., Neff, K. D., & Dill-Shackleford, K. E. (2015). Self-compassion and body dissatisfaction in women: A randomized controlled trial of a brief meditation intervention. Mindfulness, 6(3), 444–454.

    Google Scholar 

  • An, X. (2017). Social networking site uses, internalization, body surveillance, social comparison and body dissatisfaction of males and females in mainland China. Asian Journal of Communication, 27(6), 616–630.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arroyo, A., & Brunner, S. R. (2016). Negative body talk as an outcome of friends’ fitness posts on social networking sites: Body surveillance and social comparison as potential moderators. Journal of Applied Communication Research, 44(3), 216–235.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arroyo, A., & Harwood, J. (2012). Exploring the causes and consequences of engaging in fat talk. Journal of Applied Communication Research, 40(2), 167–187.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun, T. D., Park, C. L., & Gorin, A. (2016). Self-compassion, body image, and disordered eating: A review of the literature. Body Image, 17, 117–131.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cash, T. F. (2000). Multidimensional Body–Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ). Washington, D.C: American Psychological Association and Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, H., & Jackson, T. (2009). Predictors of changes in body image concerns of Chinese adolescents. Journal of Adolescence, 32(4), 977–994.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Choi, Y. M., Lee, D.-g., & Lee, H.-K. (2014). The effect of self-compassion on emotions when experiencing a sense of inferiority across comparison situations. Procedia-Social Behavioral Sciences, 114, 949–953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chow, C. M., & Tan, C. C. (2016). Weight status, negative body talk, and body dissatisfaction: A dyadic analysis of male friends. Journal of Health Psychology, 21(8), 1597–1606.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • de Vries, D. A., Peter, J., Nikken, P., & de Graaf, H. (2014). The effect of social network site use on appearance investment and desire for cosmetic surgery among adolescent boys and girls. Sex Roles, 71(9–10), 283–295.

    Google Scholar 

  • Donaghue, N. (2009). Body satisfaction, sexual self-schemas and subjective well-being in women. Body Image, 6(1), 37–42.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Duchesne, A. P., Dion, J., Lalande, D., Bégin, C., Émond, C., Lalande, G., & McDuff, P. (2017). Body dissatisfaction and psychological distress in adolescents: Is self-esteem a mediator? Journal of Health Psychology, 22(12), 1563–1569.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ellison, N. B., Steinfield, C., & Lampe, C. (2007). The benefits of Facebook “friends:” Social capital and college students’ use of online social network sites. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 12(4), 1143–1168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Engeln, R., Sladek, M. R., & Waldron, H. (2013). Body talk among college men: Content, correlates, and effects. Body Image, 10(3), 300–308.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Engeln-Maddox, R., Salk, R. H., & Miller, S. A. (2012). Assessing women's negative commentary on their own bodies: A psychometric investigation of the negative body talk scale. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 36(2), 162–178.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fardouly, J., & Vartanian, L. R. (2016). Social media and body image concerns: Current research and future directions. Current Opinion in Psychology, 9, 1–5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferreira, C., Pinto-Gouveia, J., & Duarte, C. (2013). Self-compassion in the face of shame and body image dissatisfaction: Implications for eating disorders. Eating Behaviors, 14(2), 207–210.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Festinger, L. (1954). A theory of social comparison processes. Human Relations, 7(2), 117–140.

    Google Scholar 

  • Furman, W., & Buhrmester, D. (1992). Age and sex differences in perceptions of networks of personal relationships. Child Development, 63(1), 103–115.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert, P. (2009). Introducing compassion-focused therapy. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, 15(3), 199–208.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, A. F. (2013). Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis: A regression-based approach. New York: Guilford Press.

  • Homan, K. J., & Tylka, T. L. (2015). Self-compassion moderates body comparison and appearance self-worth's inverse relationships with body appreciation. Body Image, 15, 1–7.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, T., & Chen, H. (2007). Identifying the eating disorder symptomatic in China: The role of sociocultural factors and culturally defined appearance concerns. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 62(2), 241–249.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, T., & Chen, H. (2008a). Sociocultural influences on body image concerns of young Chinese males. Journal of Adolescent Research, 23(2), 154–171.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, T., & Chen, H. (2008b). Sociocultural predictors of physical appearance concerns among adolescent girls and young women from China. Sex Roles, 58(5–6), 402–411.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, T., & Chen, H. (2015). Features of objectified body consciousness and sociocultural perspectives as risk factors for disordered eating among late-adolescent women and men. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 62(4), 741–752.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, D. C., & Crawford, J. K. (2006). The peer appearance culture during adolescence: Gender and body mass variations. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 35(2), 243–255.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, D. C., Vigfusdottir, T. H., & Lee, Y. (2004). Body image and the appearance culture among adolescent girls and boys: An examination of friend conversations, peer criticism, appearance magazines, and the internalization of appearance ideals. Journal of Adolescent Research, 19(3), 323–339.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leary, M. R., Tate, E. B., Adams, C. E., Allen, A. B., & Hancock, J. (2007). Self-compassion and reactions to unpleasant self-relevant events: The implications of treating oneself kindly. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92(5), 887–904.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McCabe, M. P., & Ricciardelli, L. A. (2005). A prospective study of pressures from parents, peers, and the media on extreme weight change behaviors among adolescent boys and girls. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 43(5), 653–668.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meier, E. P., & Gray, J. (2014). Facebook photo activity associated with body image disturbance in adolescent girls. Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, 17(4), 199–206.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mills, J., & Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, M. (2017). Fat talk and body image disturbance: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 41(1), 114–129.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moffitt, R. L., Neumann, D. L., & Williamson, S. P. (2018). Comparing the efficacy of a brief self-esteem and self-compassion intervention for state body dissatisfaction and self-improvement motivation. Body Image, 27, 67–76.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Neff, K. D. (2003a). The development and validation of a scale to measure self-compassion. Self and Identity, 2(3), 223–250.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neff, K. D. (2003b). Self-compassion: An alternative conceptualization of a healthy attitude toward oneself. Self and Identity, 2(2), 85–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neff, K. D., Kirkpatrick, K. L., & Rude, S. S. (2007). Self-compassion and adaptive psychological functioning. Journal of Research in Personality, 41(1), 139–154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nichter, M., & Vuckovic, N. (1994). Fat talk: Body image among adolescent girls. In N. L. Sault (Ed.), Many mirrors: Body image and social relations. New Jersey: Rutgers University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pempek, T. A., Yermolayeva, Y. A., & Calvert, S. L. (2009). College students’ social networking experiences on Facebook. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 30(3), 227–238.

    Google Scholar 

  • Presnell, K., Bearman, S. K., & Stice, E. (2004). Risk factors for body dissatisfaction in adolescent boys and girls: A prospective study. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 36(4), 389–401.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raes, F., Pommier, E., Neff, K. D., & Van Gucht, D. (2011). Construction and factorial validation of a short form of the self-compassion scale. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 18(3), 250–255.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rodgers, R. F., Mclean, S. A., Marques, M., Dunstan, C. J., & Paxton, S. J. (2016). Trajectories of body dissatisfaction and dietary restriction in early adolescent girls: A latent class growth analysis. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 45(8), 1664–1677.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rodgers, R. F., Donovan, E., Cousineau, T., Yates, K., McGowan, K., Cook, E., et al. (2018). BodiMojo: Efficacy of a mobile-based intervention in improving body image and self-compassion among adolescents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 47(7), 1363–1372.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schaefer, L. M., Harriger, J. A., Heinberg, L. J., Soderberg, T., & Thompson, J. K. (2017). Development and validation of the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-4-Revised (SATAQ-4R). International Journal of Eating Disorders, 27(1), 54–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seekis, V., Bradley, G. L., & Duffy, A. (2017). The effectiveness of self-compassion and self-esteem writing tasks in reducing body image concerns. Body Image, 23, 206–213.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sharpe, H., Naumann, U., Treasure, J., & Schmidt, U. (2013). Is fat talking a causal risk factor for body dissatisfaction? A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 46(7), 643–652.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shomaker, L. B., & Furman, W. (2007). Same–sex peers’ influence on young women’s body image: An experimental manipulation. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 26(8), 871–895.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shroff, H. M. (2004). An examination of peer-related risk and protective factors for body image disturbance and disordered eating among adolescent girls. South Florida University.

  • Sirois, F. M., Kitner, R., & Hirsch, J. K. (2015). Self-compassion, affect, and health-promoting behaviors. Health Psychology, 34(6), 661–669.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stern, N. G., & Engeln, R. (2018). Self-compassionate writing exercises increase college women’s body satisfaction. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 42(3), 326–341.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stice, E., & Whitenton, K. (2002). Risk factors for body dissatisfaction in adolescent girls: A longitudinal investigation. Developmental Psychology, 38(5), 669–678.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Strandbu, A., & Kvalem, I. L. (2014). Body talk and body ideals among adolescent boys and girls: A mixed-gender focus group study. Youth & Society, 46(5), 623–641.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun, Q. (2017). Predictors of stature concerns among young Chinese women and men. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 1–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taniguchi, E., & Lee, H. E. (2012). Cross-cultural differences between Japanese and American female college students in the effects of witnessing fat talk on Facebook. Journal of Intercultural Communication Research, 41(3), 260–278.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taniguchi, E., & Lee, H. E. (2013). Effects of witnessing fat talk on body satisfaction and psychological well-being: A cross-cultural comparison of Korea and the United States. Social Behavior and Personality, 41(8), 1279–1295.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, J. K., Heinberg, L. J., Altabe, M., & Tantleff-Dunn, S. (1999). Exacting beauty: Theory, assessment, and treatment of body image disturbance. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tiggemann, M. (2005). Body dissatisfaction and adolescent self-esteem: Prospective findings. Body Image, 2(2), 129–135.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tylka, T. L., Russell, H. L., & Neal, A. A. (2015). Self-compassion as a moderator of thinness-related pressures’ associations with thin-ideal internalization and disordered eating. Eating Behaviors, 17, 23–26.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • van den Berg, P. A., Mond, J., Eisenberg, M., Ackard, D., & Neumarksztainer, D. (2010). The link between body dissatisfaction and self-esteem in adolescents: Similarities across gender, age, weight status, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Journal of Adolescent Health, 47(3), 290–296.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker, M., Thornton, L., De Choudhury, M., Teevan, J., Bulik, C. M., Levinson, C. A., et al. (2015). Facebook use and disordered eating in college-aged women. Journal of Adolescent Health, 57(2), 157–163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, K., Liang, R., Ma, Z. L., Chen, J., Cheung, E. F. C., Roalf, D. R., Gur, R. C., & Chan, R. C. K. (2018a). Body image attitude among Chinese college students. PsyCh Journal, 7(1), 31–40.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Y., Xie, X., Wang, X., Wang, P., Nie, J., & Lei, L. (2018b). Narcissism and selfie-posting behavior: The mediating role of body satisfaction and the moderating role of attitude toward selfie-posting behavior. Current Psychology, 1–8.

  • Wang, Y., Wang, X., Yang, J., Zeng, P., & Lei, L. (2019). Body talk on social networking sites, body surveillance, and body shame among young adults: The roles of self-compassion and gender. Sex Roles, 1–12.

  • Wang, Y., Wang, X., Liu, H., Xie, X., Wang, P., & Lei, L. (2020). Selfie posting and self-esteem among young adult women: A mediation model of positive feedback and body satisfaction. Journal of Health Psychology, 25(2), 161–172.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Xu, X., Mellor, D., Kiehne, M., Ricciardelli, L. A., McCabe, M. P., & Xu, Y. (2010). Body dissatisfaction, engagement in body change behaviors and sociocultural influences on body image among Chinese adolescents. Body Image, 7(2), 156–164.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yang, X., & Mak, W. W. (2017). The differential moderating roles of self-compassion and mindfulness in self-stigma and well-being among people living with mental illness or HIV. Mindfulness, 8(3), 595–602.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang, Y., Guo, Z., Kou, Y., & Liu, B. (2019). Linking self-compassion and prosocial behavior in adolescents: The mediating roles of relatedness and trust. Child Indicators Research, 1–15.

  • Zessin, U., Dickhäuser, O., & Garbade, S. (2015). The relationship between self-compassion and well-being: A meta-analysis. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-being, 7(3), 340–364.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by fund for building world-class universities (disciplines) of Renmin University of China and the fund from China Scholarship Council (201806360125).

The authors thank Xiaoxiao Yang, Yixin Jiang and Shiqing Song for assistance in data collection and thank Professor Xingchao Wang and Dr. Jasmine Fardouly for their help in the revision.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Renmin University of China, No. 59 Zhongguancun Street, Haidian District, Beijing, 100872, China

    Yuhui Wang, Lipeng Yin & Li Lei

  2. School of Journalism and Communication, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China

    Jing Yang

  3. Shandong Foreign Trade Vocational College, Qingdao, 266071, China

    Junli Wang

Authors
  1. Yuhui Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jing Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Junli Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Lipeng Yin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Li Lei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Li Lei.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wang, Y., Yang, J., Wang, J. et al. Body talk on social networking sites and body dissatisfaction among young women: A moderated mediation model of peer appearance pressure and self-compassion. Curr Psychol 41, 1584–1594 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-00704-5

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-00704-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation