The Relationship between Social Media Use and Body Image in Lebanese University Students

Nutrients · 5 authors, 6 centres

AI SUMMARY

FIDELITY 100%

POPULATIONLebanese university students

INTERVENTIONSocial media addiction (assessed by BSMAS score)

COMPARISONNo social media addiction

This summary was generated by AI from a single paper. It has not been reviewed by a clinician and is not clinical advice. Verify against the source before acting on it.

AGENT 01 · STRUCTURED SUMMARY

TRACE TO SOURCE

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TL;DR

This cross-sectional study of 292 Lebanese university students found that those with social media addiction had higher odds of body image concerns and unhealthy eating behaviors compared to non-addicted peers.

Full summary

561 CHARS

This cross-sectional study surveyed 292 Lebanese university students via convenience sampling to assess associations between social media addiction and body image concerns. The study used validated tools to measure social media addiction (BSMAS), body shape concern, and eating behaviors. The authors note the cross-sectional design prevents establishing causality and limits findings to Lebanese university students. The implications suggest a need for awareness and interventions targeting younger social media users to prevent associated unhealthy behaviors.

PICO

PPOPULATION

Lebanese university students

IINTERVENTION

Social media addiction (assessed by BSMAS score)

OOUTCOME

Body shape concern, emotional overeating, food responsiveness, hunger

STUDY TYPE

cross-sectional

SPECIALTY

psychiatry

SUMMARISED BY

AI pipeline

FIDELITY CHECK

100% · A

ORIGINAL PAPER

PMC10538105

The Relationship between Social Media Use and Body Image in Lebanese University Students

Nutrients

READ THE FULL PAPER

ABSTRACT

Well-being is not only defined as being physically healthy; multiple factors can affect a person’s well-being. Social media is strongly correlated with the body dissatisfaction of an individual. High exposure to lean and toned body shapes has created new standards and “idealized” body types. The aim of this article was to assess the relationship between social media and body image among university students in Lebanon. Data were obtained from 292 university students (median age: 22 years), selected from different Lebanese regions by using convenience sampling. Demographic data, social media addiction, body satisfaction, levels of physical activity, eating behaviors, and ultimate well-being were expressed as median and interquartile range. People who relied more on social media were younger than those who did not. Individuals addicted to social media had higher odds of having moderate and marked body image concerns. A significant association was found between social media addiction and emotional overeating, food responsiveness, and feeling hunger. These findings stress the need for rising regional and national awareness among social media users, especially the younger ones, and the implementation of intervention and prevention techniques to help prevent body image dissatisfaction, disordered eating patterns, and the alteration of overall well-being.

CITATION EXPORT

Joanne M. Karam, Carol Bouteen, Yara Mahmoud et al.. The Relationship between Social Media Use and Body Image in Lebanese University Students. Nutrients. (2023). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15183961

AUTHORS

5 · 6 CENTRES

Joanne M. Karam, Carol Bouteen, Yara Mahmoud, Josep A. Tur, Cristina Bouzas

1Institut National de Santé Publique, d’Épidémiologie Clinique et de Toxicologie-Liban (INSPECT-LB), Beirut 1103 2180, Lebanon
2Department of Natural Sciences, Lebanese American University, Beirut 1102 2801, Lebanon
3School of Health Sciences, Modern University for Business and Science, Damour 113-7501, Lebanon
4Research Group on Community Nutrition and Oxidative Stress, University of the Balearic Islands-IUNICS, E-07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain; [email protected]
5Health Research Institute of Balearic Islands (IdISBa), E-07120 Palma, Spain
6CIBEROBN (Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition CB12/03/30038), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, E-28029 Madrid, Spain

EDITOR / REVIEWER

Hubertus Himmerich, Khadijeh Mirzaei