How social media influences the self-image and body image among female and male adolescents.

ABSTRACT: Parents, peers, and social media are the primary drivers of sociocultural influence among young people, where social media is considered the most pervasive and persuasive of these drivers. However, there is a need for a more nuanced understanding of this influence, considering the differences in how young males and females view their self-images and body images. This study combined qualitative data from focus-group interviews and a national survey to investigate social media influences on Norwegian adolescents' body image and self-image. Forty-eight adolescents (58% females) attending secondary schools mean age 15.9 (age range 15-19 years) participated in eight focus-group interviews. Their responses to the questions about social media's influence on body image were analyzed thematically.

SUBMITTER: Tennfjord MK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12654893 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature