Social Media, Body Image Dissatisfaction, and Disordered Eating: A Systematic Review of Studies on Young Women

Abstract

Social media has become a prominent communication tool, transforming how people interact and influencing various aspects of their lives, including body image and eating behaviors. This systematic review aimed to comprehensively analyze the growing corpus of research examining the impact of social media on young women’s body image dissatisfaction and disordered eating. A search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and MDPI databases, following PRISMA guidelines. Twenty studies meeting the inclusion criteria were analyzed, revealing several key findings. Exposure to appearance-based content on social media was strongly linked to body dissatisfaction and unhealthy eating behaviors. Increased time spent on social media, particularly on appearance-focused platforms like Instagram and Facebook, was significantly associated with body image concerns and eating pathology. Self-esteem and satisfaction with body image were negatively affected by excessive and problematic social media use, with women being more prone to self-comparison and internalization of unrealistic beauty standards. Underlying processes, such as self-objectification, appearance comparison, and thin-ideal internalization, were identified as mediators between social media use and body dissatisfaction. These findings highlight the need for greater awareness and intervention strategies to mitigate the negative impact of social media on young women’s body image and eating behaviors. Media literacy programs, diverse representation on social media platforms, and mental health professionals’ awareness of these issues are crucial in addressing this growing concern.