Exploring how Instagram addiction is associated with women’s body image and drive for thinness

ABSTRACT

This study integrated social comparison theory and objectification theory to explain how Instagram addiction is associated with young women’s body image and drive for thinness through appearance comparisons and objectification. A sample of 321 young Korean women who currently use Instagram completed a self-administered online questionnaire. The results showed that Instagram addiction is positively associated with a drive for thinness and that this relationship is mediated by appearance comparisons, objectification, and body satisfaction. The findings confirm the usefulness of social comparison and objectification theories for explaining the associations between addictive Instagram use and body image concerns. It also implies that the appearance comparison and objectification process can be detrimental to the body image of young Korean women.

KEYWORDS:

• Instagram addiction
• Appearance comparison
• Objectification
• Social comparison theory
• Objectification theory
• Drive for thinness

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea and the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF-2019S1A5B5A07109652).