Beyond the Filter: Exploring the Association Between Appearance-Related Social Media Consciousness and Body Esteem with Insights on Gender Differences

Abstract

In a world where scrolling through perfectly curated images has become second nature, young adults are increasingly shaped by the digital lens through which they view themselves. This study examines how appearance-related social media consciousness influences the body-esteem of young adults, with a focus on gender differences in these variables. A total of 140 participants (70 males and 70 females) aged 18-25, residing in Delhi (NCR), were selected for this study, based on the high rate of social media usage among youth. The two measures were administered to collect that data: “Appearance-related social media consciousness scale (ASMC)” and “Body-esteem scale for adolescents and adults (BESAA)”. Data was analysed using SPSS-16, and correlation was computed to investigate the association of appearance-related social media consciousness with body-esteem. Furthermore, to investigate gender differences, a t-test was performed. The findings revealed a significant correlation between appearance-related social media consciousness and body-esteem. Also, it was found that males and females differ significantly on the administered variables.