Picture perfect: Exploring the relationship between problematic TikTok use, physical appearance perfectionism, and upward physical appearance comparison on body appreciation

Physical appearance perfectionism and upward physical appearance comparisons have a potential role in explaining how the use of popular social networking sites can negatively impact a person's body image. Although there is considerable research on the relationship between body image and problem...

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Main Authors: Katie O'Connor, Johannes Karl, Simon Dunne
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-01-01
Series:Current Research in Behavioral Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266651822400010X
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author Katie O'Connor
Johannes Karl
Simon Dunne
author_facet Katie O'Connor
Johannes Karl
Simon Dunne
author_sort Katie O'Connor
collection DOAJ
description Physical appearance perfectionism and upward physical appearance comparisons have a potential role in explaining how the use of popular social networking sites can negatively impact a person's body image. Although there is considerable research on the relationship between body image and problematic Instagram usage, there is little reported on TikTok use. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the mediating relationship of physical appearance perfectionism and upward physical appearance comparison between problematic TikTok use and body appreciation. The sample included 185 TikTok users. Serial mediation analysis revealed a significant indirect negative relationship between problematic TikTok use and body appreciation through physical appearance perfectionism, but not upward physical appearance comparison, or physical appearance perfectionism and upward physical appearance comparison in serial. Thus, with the rapid growth of TikTok, this study highlights the importance of identifying the individuals who may be more vulnerable to the effects of the app. We suggest possible practice implications such as the implementation of screening strategies to identify those high in physical appearance perfectionism, and the development of workshops aimed at promoting positive body image in the face of SNS use.
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spelling doaj-art-19f2d05351ce4c37ad8441bfcdcb1ec62024-11-30T07:14:14ZengElsevierCurrent Research in Behavioral Sciences2666-51822024-01-017100156Picture perfect: Exploring the relationship between problematic TikTok use, physical appearance perfectionism, and upward physical appearance comparison on body appreciationKatie O'Connor0Johannes Karl1Simon Dunne2School of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Health, Dublin City University, IrelandSchool of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Health, Dublin City University, IrelandSchool of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Health, Dublin City University, Ireland; Corresponding author: School of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Health, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland.Physical appearance perfectionism and upward physical appearance comparisons have a potential role in explaining how the use of popular social networking sites can negatively impact a person's body image. Although there is considerable research on the relationship between body image and problematic Instagram usage, there is little reported on TikTok use. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the mediating relationship of physical appearance perfectionism and upward physical appearance comparison between problematic TikTok use and body appreciation. The sample included 185 TikTok users. Serial mediation analysis revealed a significant indirect negative relationship between problematic TikTok use and body appreciation through physical appearance perfectionism, but not upward physical appearance comparison, or physical appearance perfectionism and upward physical appearance comparison in serial. Thus, with the rapid growth of TikTok, this study highlights the importance of identifying the individuals who may be more vulnerable to the effects of the app. We suggest possible practice implications such as the implementation of screening strategies to identify those high in physical appearance perfectionism, and the development of workshops aimed at promoting positive body image in the face of SNS use.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266651822400010XBody imageBody appreciationPhysical appearance perfectionismUpward physical appearance comparisonTikTokSocial media use
spellingShingle Katie O'Connor
Johannes Karl
Simon Dunne
Picture perfect: Exploring the relationship between problematic TikTok use, physical appearance perfectionism, and upward physical appearance comparison on body appreciation
Current Research in Behavioral Sciences
Body image
Body appreciation
Physical appearance perfectionism
Upward physical appearance comparison
TikTok
Social media use
title Picture perfect: Exploring the relationship between problematic TikTok use, physical appearance perfectionism, and upward physical appearance comparison on body appreciation
title_full Picture perfect: Exploring the relationship between problematic TikTok use, physical appearance perfectionism, and upward physical appearance comparison on body appreciation
title_fullStr Picture perfect: Exploring the relationship between problematic TikTok use, physical appearance perfectionism, and upward physical appearance comparison on body appreciation
title_full_unstemmed Picture perfect: Exploring the relationship between problematic TikTok use, physical appearance perfectionism, and upward physical appearance comparison on body appreciation
title_short Picture perfect: Exploring the relationship between problematic TikTok use, physical appearance perfectionism, and upward physical appearance comparison on body appreciation
title_sort picture perfect exploring the relationship between problematic tiktok use physical appearance perfectionism and upward physical appearance comparison on body appreciation
topic Body image
Body appreciation
Physical appearance perfectionism
Upward physical appearance comparison
TikTok
Social media use
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266651822400010X
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AT johanneskarl pictureperfectexploringtherelationshipbetweenproblematictiktokusephysicalappearanceperfectionismandupwardphysicalappearancecomparisononbodyappreciation
AT simondunne pictureperfectexploringtherelationshipbetweenproblematictiktokusephysicalappearanceperfectionismandupwardphysicalappearancecomparisononbodyappreciation