Eyes on me: how social media use is associated with urban Chinese adolescents' concerns about their physical appearance.

Introduction: Social media usage carries risks of negative impacts on one's perception of physical attractiveness, especially among adolescents who are developing their self-image. These findings suggest that targeted interventions focusing on attention-seeking behaviors may be effective in addressing appearance-related anxieties among adolescents. Methods: We employed Bayesian analysis with Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithms on survey data from 11,926 middle school students in China. Findings: Our findings indicate that while the amount of daily social media usage does not significantly correlate with appearance concerns, the desire for social media attention through interactions such as liking, commenting, and sharing shows a clear positive association. Female adolescents exhibit a higher degree of concern about their physical appearance compared to males. Additionally, behaviors aimed at improving perceived physical attractiveness, such as exercising and using skin-whitening products, are positively associated with increased appearance concerns. Discussion: These findings suggest that targeted interventions focusing on attention-seeking behaviors may be effective in addressing appearance-related anxieties among adolescents.

The body positive or the body neutral? A content analysis of body positivity and body neutrality hashtagged videos on TikTok.

The goal of the present study was to examine how body positivity and body neutrality are presented on TikTok. Based on a grounded-theory analysis, body-positivity themes included Broadly Conceptualizing Beauty (i.e., diversity in appearance types is beautiful), Body Acceptance and Love (i.e., love for and comfort in one's body), and Critiquing Standards (i.e., rejecting strict appearance standards). Body-neutrality themes included Size Inclusivity (i.e., people's activities/preferences should be based on body size), Adaptive Self-Investment (i.e., self care focused on health), Body Appreciation (i.e., respect for what one's body can do), and No Judgment (i.e., a person's worth should not be based on appearance). Further, based on a content analysis of 394 TikTok vidoes that were hashtagged with body positivity and/or body neutrality terms, at least one body-positivity theme occurred in 35.3% (n = 141) of videos, and at least one body neutrality theme occurred in 45.0% (n = 180) of videos. Body Acceptance and Love was the most common body-positivity theme, and Size Inclusivity was the most common body-neutrality theme. Understanding how TikTok videos present body positivity and neutrality is essential to further theorizing about how they might affect social media users.

Are diverse models really non-idealized? Investigating body positivity public feed posts of fashion and beauty brands on instagram.

Research increasingly explores body positive (BoPo) messaging and diverse model representation in advertising. Fashion and beauty brands are incorporating diverse models in traditional media to address criticisms of promoting narrow appearance ideals, yet their social media communications remain understudied. This content analytical study (n = 460 models, 16 brands) analyzes BoPo messages and diverse model representation in fashion and beauty brands' Instagram posts. Variations according to the brands' reputation, posts' framing, and posts' popularity were considered. Results showed that although diverse models appeared to be prominently featured in the brands' Instagram posts (71.50%; n = 329), the majority of these posts displayed only one aspect of diversity. Racial diversity was the most represented diversity trait (76.29%, n = 251), while body (32.80%, n = 151), facial (12.10%, n = 38), and generational diversity (22.50%, n = 73) were limited. The sexualization frame (88.70%, n = 408) prevailed over the empowerment frame (32.40%, n = 149). Positive changes were noted with the empowerment frame significantly relating to the representation of diverse models. Yet, this study also highlighted that such positive messages still co-occur with negative messages as an empowerment frame co-occurred with a highly prevalent sexualization frame.

Experiences of appearance conversations among young people living with a visible difference.

Stigmatisation surrounding having a visible difference to the face or body may have a marked impact on how young people communicate about appearance. The aim of our study was therefore to explore the experiences of appearance conversations among young people living with a visible difference. Interviews were conducted with 32 young people (mean age 14.1 years; 67.7% girls), with a condition resulting in a visible difference (e.g., craniofacial condition or scarring). Using reflexive thematic analysis, we identified three themes. Importance of Safety and Understanding reflects the importance of feeling safe in order to be able to talk about appearance. Participants described appearance conversations as often originating in their need for emotional support or practical assistance when encountering difficulties (Conversations When in Need of Support), but appearance was also experienced as a sensitive topic that was difficult to talk about (Avoiding Appearance Conversations). Our results highlight the importance of creating spaces where young people with a visible difference feel safe to bring up the topic of appearance when in need of support. Elements that facilitate such conversations include others having knowledge about the condition and having one's feelings and experiences validated instead of minimised.

Young Plasma Rejuvenates Blood DNA Methylation Profile, Extends Mean Lifespan, and Improves Physical Appearance in Old Rats.

There is converging evidence that young blood conveys cells, vesicles, and molecules able to revitalize function and restore organ integrity in old individuals. We assessed the effects of young plasma on the lifespan, epigenetic age, and healthspan of old female rats. Beginning at 25.6 months of age, a group of 9 rats (group T) was intraperitoneally injected with plasma from young rats until their natural death. A group of 8 control rats of the same age received no treatment (group C). Blood samples were collected every other week. Survival curves showed that from age 26 to 30 months, none of the group T animals died, whereas the survival curve of group C rats began to decline at age 26 months. Blood DNAm age versus chronological age showed that DNAm age in young animals increased faster than chronological age, then slowed down, entering a plateau after 27 months. The DNAm age of the treated rats fell below the DNAm age of controls and, in numerical terms, remained consistently lower until natural death. When rats were grouped according to the similarities in their differential blood DNA methylation profile, samples from the treated and control rats clustered in separate groups. Analysis of promoter differential methylation in genes involved in systemic regulatory activities revealed specific GO term enrichment related to the insulin-like factors pathways as well as to cytokines and chemokines associated with immune and homeostatic functions. We conclude that young plasma therapy may constitute a natural, noninvasive intervention for epigenetic rejuvenation and health enhancement.

Beauty work or beauty care? Women's perceptions of appearance in the second half of life.

The prevailing cultural emphasis on women's attractiveness being tied to youth raises questions about how women perceive their appearance in the second half of life. The current qualitative study addresses this issue by posing two questions: how do women over fifty perceive and describe changes in their appearance? And how do they cope with these changes? Five focus group meetings with 19 Israeli women aged 54-76 were held to examine the issue. The meetings were structured around viewing three film clips starring older characters, encouraging the reporting of attitudes and perceptions in response to the clips. Based on a latent thematic analysis, the findings led to the conceptualization of a five-attitude model in response to physical changes in women's appearance: Grief-over the loss of youth and attractiveness; Resentment-over gendered media representations and cultural norms; Avoidance-distancing from one's aged appearance; Care-maintaining grooming routines; and Acceptance-coming to terms with the changes in appearance. Differences in responses between women were interpreted as reflecting a distinction between internal and external locus of control. Those with an external locus of control internalized the judgmental gaze of others, thus, reporting a greater sense of loss. Those with an internal locus of control were better able to accept themselves and focus on grooming rather than conforming to an imagined ideal. Results suggest that the distinction between understanding women's relationship with their appearance in terms of beauty work or beauty care may depend on the woman's locus of control.

Flex Friday: A content analysis of men's fitspiration on Instagram.

Fitspiration is a social media trend that utilizes images and quotes to promote and inspire physical health and fitness. However, research has shown Fitspiration reinforces the rigidly defined appearance ideal, particularly in women, which can lead to negative body image. There remains limited understanding of the characteristics and impact of men's Fitspiration. The purpose of this content analysis was to investigate the nature, presentation, and text-based messages of male-focused Fitspiration on Instagram. Hashtags (#) were used to collect 1,000 random images from Instagram. Content codes for images included body type, objectification, activities, and messages conveyed. Results showed most images consisted of men accentuating their highly muscular upper bodies with low body fat, consistent with the male appearance ideal. Also, men were often shown engaging in activities irrelevant to health or fitness (i.e., passive modeling) that emphasized their physical appearance. Consistent with research examining female-focused Fitspiration, male-focused Fitspiration reinforces a glamorized appearance ideal with low focus on health and fitness.

'I wish my body looked like theirs!': How positive appearance comments on social media impact adolescents' body dissatisfaction.

Despite robust research evidence for the role of attractive-body portrayals in body image, the effect of positive appearance comments that endorse them on social media remains unclear. Therefore, using a between-subject experimental design and the data from 613 Czech adolescents (52% girls) aged 13-18 (M = 15.5, SD = 1.7), the present study examined exposure to positive appearance comments on body dissatisfaction, and the moderating roles of media-ideal internalization, appearance schematicity, body appreciation, and gender. Our data supported the presumed intensifying effect of the positive appearance comments on post-exposure body dissatisfaction, but only for adolescent girls. The impact of positive comments was not moderated by the media-ideal internalization, appearance schematicity, or body appreciation. However, the exploratory results showed that the displayed bodies' perceived attractiveness intensified the positive comments' effect on body dissatisfaction, which makes it a potentially important factor to target for the prevention of negative social media effects on body image. Furthermore, the individual characteristics that moderated the exposure to attractive images in the prior research may not determine the effects of the positive comments. Future research may need to capture factors that specifically influence the processing of such comments, such as susceptibility to peer feedback on physical appearance.

Global and appearance-contingent self-esteem: Associations with health and attractiveness exercise reasons.

Whilst some individuals exercise for health-related reasons, others appear to exercise to bolster physical attractiveness. For the latter, this is often attributed to dissatisfaction with appearance. Few studies, however, have explored if differences in self-esteem may relate to diverse exercise reasons. The present study investigated whether global self-esteem, appearance-contingent self-worth, and appearance satisfaction may be differentially associated with health and attractiveness exercise reasons. It was further sought to explore whether these relations coincided with different motivational regulations. Adults from the east midlands of the United Kingdom (N = 209; 75% female, 25% male; mean age = 29.77 years) completed measures relating to their global and appearance-contingent self-esteem, appearance satisfaction, exercise intentions, and motivations. Structural equation modelling revealed that global self-esteem was positively associated with appearance satisfaction and health reasons for exercise, whereas appearance-contingent self-esteem related to lower appearance satisfaction and attractiveness reasons. Appearance satisfaction had no association with either exercise reason but was associated with intrinsic motivation and lower controlled exercise motivations. Health exercise reasons were positively associated with intrinsic, identified, and introjected motivation, whereas attractiveness reasons were exclusively related to external motivation. The findings highlight the conceptual importance of differentiating the level and contingency of exercisers' self-esteem. The findings may also have substantive value for exercise practitioners in understanding different reasons for exercise.

Factors affecting body image perception, social media addiction, and social media consciousness regarding physical appearance in adolescents.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted cross-sectionally with the aim of determining the factors affecting adolescents' Appearance Related Social Media Consciousness Scale, Social Media Addiction Scale for Adolescents and Body Image Scale scores and the extent to which social media addiction and body image perception predict social media consciousness scores. DESIGN AND METHODS: The population of this study consisted of adolescents between the ages of 12-18 years studying in the academic year 2022-2023. The study was completed with 1667 volunteer students. The Body Image Scale, Social Media Addiction Scale for Adolescents and Appearance Related Social Media Consciousness Scale were used to collect the data. RESULTS: When the models were evaluated, it was determined that being female, increasing the time spent on the internet, sharing pictures frequently, using filters on pictures and being uncomfortable with the sharing of unfiltered pictures, and spending the most time on social media sites were strong predictors of Appearance Related Social Media Consciousness Scale, Social Media Addiction Scale for Adolescents and Body Image Scale scores. CONCLUSIONS: As a result, in our study, as adolescents' negative body image perception and social media addiction increased, social media consciousness about appearance increased. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Nurses can determine risky groups according to the results of the study and organize trainings on body image perception, the effects of social media use and media literacy.

Association of Social Networking Sites Use with Actual and Ideal Body Shapes, and Eating Behaviors in Healthy Young Japanese Women.

Recent reports have associated the use of social networking sites (SNS) with the drive for thinness in young women; however, its influence on their actual body shape and eating behaviors (EB) remains unclear. We aimed to examine the effect of SNS use on body mass index (BMI), body image (BI), and EB in young women. Participants included 196 healthy women (20-29 years) who answered questions about their SNS use, height, weight, BI and EB via a web-based survey. First, the correlation between time spent on SNS and each variable was determined. Participants were then divided into quartiles according to the duration of daily SNS use as long (≥3 h, n = 52) and short (<1 h, n = 54), and the data were then compared between the groups. Correlation analysis showed that the longer the duration of daily SNS use, the significantly lower the BMI, the use of nutrition labels, and the frequency of consumption of milk and dairy products. The long group had significantly lower BMI and ideal BI than the short group. The results suggest that spending more time on SNS in young women may be associated with thinner actual and ideal body shapes and poorer access to health information and healthy foods.

Overcoming social appearance anxiety among children affected by congenital physical differences.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: How can we effectively help children with congenital physical differences and their parents in adapting to their situation and overcome social appearance anxiety? How can we improve their self-efficacy in social situations and relationships, as well as increase their self-esteem and self-confidence, which are foundations of assertiveness? RECENT FINDINGS: Several studies have examined the coping skills variability between children. Researchers have attempted to identify the discriminating factors of these differences. Standardized programmes combining Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Social Skills Training (SST) have been developed, but recent studies question their effectiveness. Research is now focusing on third-wave CBT that is promoted actively despite insufficient evidence. SUMMARY: Close examination of the mechanisms by which children develop social appearance anxiety shows that exposure and assertiveness training are key therapeutic tools. As with any other type of social anxiety, exposure allows these children to experience and learn positive, value-enhancing social relationships, in spite of their differences. SST creates a well tolerated exposure environment for whichever kind of curiosity the child may encounter. Therapeutic support requires continued individualized readjustment and a complete understanding of the child's personal history, the complex system in which they are developing, and the mechanisms involved. We suggest to formulate for each child a personalized 'Global Theory', which integrates history and detailed functional analyses.

Physical appearance perfectionism in blepharoplasty patients: A prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Evaluation of physical appearance perfectionism (PAP) in individuals seeking blepharoplasty would be meaningful. This study aimed to explore the relationship of demographic and psychological variables with PAP in blepharoplasty patients and further investigate the impact of blepharoplasty on PAP in these patients. METHODS: This prospective observational study included 153 patients undergoing blepharoplasty between October 2017 and June 2019. Demographic and psychological variables, and PAP, were collected preoperatively. Postoperative satisfaction with eye appearance and PAP was collected with a 6-month follow-up. RESULTS: Partial correlations analyses revealed that hope for perfection was positively associated with self-esteem (r = 0.246; P < 0.01) in 153 blepharoplasty patients. Worry about imperfection was positively related to facial appearance concern (r = 0.703; P < 0.001) and negatively related to satisfaction with eye appearance (r = -0.242; P < 0.01) and self-esteem (r = -0.533; P < 0.001). After blepharoplasty, the mean± standard deviation of satisfaction with eye appearance increased (preoperatively vs. postoperatively: 5.1 ± 2.2 vs. 7.4 ± 2.2; P < 0.001), and worry about imperfection decreased (17.0 ± 4.2 vs. 15.9 ± 4.6; P < 0.001). Whereas hope for perfection remained unchanged (23.9 ± 3.9 vs. 23.6 ± 3.9; P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Appearance perfectionism was related to psychological variables rather than demographic variables in blepharoplasty patients. Preoperative evaluation of appearance perfectionism could be helpful for oculoplastic surgeons to screen for perfectionistic patients. Although some improvement in perfectionism has been observed after blepharoplasty, long-term follow-up is needed in the future.

How photo editing in social media shapes self-perceived attractiveness and self-esteem via self-objectification and physical appearance comparisons.

BACKGROUND: As photo editing behavior to enhance one?s appearance in photos becomes more and more prevalent on social network sites (SNSs), potential risks are increasingly discussed as well. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between photo editing behavior, self-objectification, physical appearance comparisons, self-perceived attractiveness, and self-esteem. METHODS: 403 participants completed self-report questionnaires measuring the aformentioned constructs. A parallel-sequential multiple mediation model was conducted to examine the relationship between photo editing behavior and self-esteem considering multiple mediators. RESULTS: The results indicate that photo editing behavior is negatively related to self-perceived attractiveness and self-esteem mediated via self-objectification and physical appearance comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: The postulated mediation model was justified by our data. Thus, SNS users should be aware of potential negative consequences when using photo editing applications or filters.

Judging a book by its cover: Cultural differences in inference of the inner state based on the outward appearance.

The world can be represented by two layers of information: How it appears on the outside (outward appearance) and what it is on the inside (inner state). To what extent an outward appearance is assumed to reflect the inner state is fundamental to social inference and judgments. Conceptualizing inference in terms of the relationship between the outward appearance and the inner state generates an integrative interpretation for a wide range of phenomena. We showed that Chinese were more likely than Euro-Canadians to make inference of inner state that deviated from outward appearance, whereas Euro-Canadians were more likely than Chinese to infer a convergence between outward appearance and inner state (Studies 1-5). We observed these cross-cultural patterns in various contexts involving people or physical structures. Individual differences in correspondence bias or response bias did not explain these patterns. The lay belief that outward appearance can be misleading mediated the cultural effects (Study 4). To probe the underlying process, two additional experiments showed that highlighting the misleading nature of appearance, but not highlighting the power of the situation, reduced Americans' beliefs (Study 6) and inference (Study 7) that the outward appearance reflects the inner state. By focusing on the assumed relationship between the outward appearance and inner state, these findings provide a unique angle for understanding cross-cultural phenomena and have practical implications in daily life. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Physical appearance and well-being in adults with incurable cancer: a thematic analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Existing research has established the importance of appearance concerns for individuals with cancer and identified appearance as an important factor in dying with dignity. No research, however, has explored in depth the role of appearance in the experiences of individuals who have incurable cancer. This research aims to explore patients' experiences and perspectives in relation to the role of appearance issues in adults with incurable cancer. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 adults with incurable cancer (20 women, 4 men; mean age 54.5, SD 11.32). RESULTS: Thematic analysis generated three themes: 'Identity: Embodying Cancer', 'Communication: Wearing your illness' and 'Support: Holistic Care'. Appearance was felt to be an important element of identity, which was often dominated by cancer, leading to feelings of separation from the participant's previous self. Appearance changes also influenced the way in which individuals communicated with their external world, forcing discussion of their diagnosis, and increasing focus on their cancer, with participants having to manage the emotional impact of this on loved ones, as well as the impact on their legacy. Finally, participants highlighted the positive impact of appearance-related support in their well-being and identified peer connections and refocusing on the self as key elements of such support. CONCLUSIONS: Appearance changes play an important role in the experiences of individuals with incurable cancer with regards to both identity and communication and challenged participants' ability to maintain normalcy. Further psychosocial support relating to appearance concerns was considered necessary to promote dignity and provide truly holistic patient care.

Women's body dissatisfaction, physical appearance comparisons, and Instagram use throughout the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the evolution of Instagram use, body dissatisfaction and physical appearance comparisons throughout the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and to explore whether there was a relationship between the changes in Instagram use throughout the pandemic and body dissatisfaction and physical appearance comparisons. METHOD: A total of 272 Spanish women (16-70 years old) were followed-up across four waves of assessment between November 2019 (before the pandemic started) and July 2021. Body dissatisfaction, social appearance comparisons, and Instagram use were assessed using the Eating Disorders Inventory-3, the Physical Appearance Comparison Scale-Revised, and an ad hoc questionnaire for Instagram use, respectively. RESULTS: No statistically significant changes were found in the frequency of Instagram use, nor on the proportion of women following appearance-focused accounts on Instagram, among the data collection periods. Body dissatisfaction significantly increased from T1 to T4, and physical appearance comparisons significantly increased from T1 to T2, T3, and T4. These increases were not found to be significant for those with eating disorder risk. No significant differences were found in body dissatisfaction and physical appearance comparisons depending on whether participants' frequency of Instagram use had changed or remained the same, or whether they had started/stopped/continued following appearance-focused accounts on Instagram during the pandemic. DISCUSSION: Women's body dissatisfaction and physical appearance comparisons seem to have increased throughout the pandemic. The experiences of individuals with eating disorder risk throughout the pandemic, and the relationship between the pandemic and Instagram use, might be complex and need further research. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: This study suggests that women's body dissatisfaction and physical appearance comparisons have increased throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this increase might not be as clear for those who had eating disorder risk before the pandemic. Instagram frequency of use, and the percentage of women following appearance-focused accounts on Instagram, do not seem to have significantly increased. More research is needed to explore the impact of the pandemic.

Anthropometry and physical appearance can be associated with quality of life in Brazilian women with Turner syndrome.

Objective: This study aimed to analyze if anthropometric factors and physical appearance are associated to QoL in Turner syndrome (TS). Materials and methods: Observational, analytical, and cross-sectional study. The SF-36 was applied along with an additional questionnaire regarding specific characteristics of TS. Results: There were no differences in quality of life (QoL) in TS women regarding median height and appropriate height according to parental target height, however, participants satisfied and who did not desire to change their height had better scores in the mental health and role emotional domains than those not satisfied and desired to change it. When comparing participants who were or were not bothered by physical appearance, the results showed that those not bothered by physical appearance had a better score in the vitality and social function domains. Considering patients who did or did not desire to change physical appearance, those who did not want to change their physical appearance had higher scores in the mental component and in the social function and mental health domains of the SF-36. Conclusion: This study indicated that anthropometric factors and physical appearance may possibly be associated to QoL in TS, and also emphasizes the need to develop and validate an official questionnaire regarding specific TS characteristics in order to assess in more detail how specific characteristics of TS interfere with their QoL.

Body satisfaction of lesbian and bisexual Brazilian women: Indicators of self-esteem, physical appearance perfectionism, and identity processes.

This article examined the association between body satisfaction and sexual identification among lesbian and bisexual women, since these factors help to understand the cultural background of the objectification of female bodies in Latin cultures. Women who identify as lesbian (N = 239) and bisexual (N = 60) completed demographic data and measures of self-esteem, physical appearance perfectionism, lesbian and bisexual identity difficulties, and body satisfaction. We performed a three-stage hierarchical multiple regression to explore how variables relate to body satisfaction. The results suggest that self-esteem plays a key role, explaining 20.4% of the variance in body satisfaction. We discussed the psychosocial and cultural aspects involved in the relationship between the variables, and social and aesthetic pressures on women's bodies. This study contributes to discussions on psychosocial aspects associated with body satisfaction among Brazilian lesbian and bisexual women.

Relationship Between Stigma Experience and Self-Perception Related to Facial Appearance in Young Japanese Patients with Cleft lip and/or Palate.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between stigma experience related to facial appearance in Japanese youths with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) and their self-perception. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-nine Japanese youths with CL/P (11-18 years old). OUTCOME MEASURES: The participants' stigma experience in relation to facial appearance (measured with 7 single contextual scale items) and their self-perception (measured with 5 domain scores based on 30 perceptual items) were assessed using the Japanese version of the Youth Quality of Life Instrument-Facial Differences Module. Participants were categorized into high and low self-perception subgroups with a threshold of 1 standard deviation for each domain. The frequency of stigma experiences was compared between the following 2 subgroups: age, sex, cleft palate only versus other cleft, and high versus low self-perception. Correlations between the responses regarding stigma and all domain scores were examined. RESULTS: Sixteen percent of the participants reported experiencing stigma. Hearing others say something about their face occurred significantly more frequently in youths 15 to 18 years of age than in youths 11 to 14 years of age. Stigma frequency was not found to differ by sex or cleft type. Stigma experiences were significantly more frequent for youth with higher scores across negative self-perception domains as well as higher coping skills. Significant correlations were identified between responses regarding stigma items and all domain scores (r = 0.27-0.63, p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: It was found that stigma experiences related to facial appearance may influence negative self-perceptions of facial differences as well as higher coping skills among Japanese youths with CL/P.