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Social media use and adolescents’ self-esteem and appearance satisfaction: The moderating role of school motivation

Smart, H; Midouhas, E; Lusher, J; (2022) Social media use and adolescents’ self-esteem and appearance satisfaction: The moderating role of school motivation. International Journal of Frontline Research in Science and Technology , 1 (2) 001-013. 10.56355/ijfrst.2022.1.2.0028. Green open access

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Abstract

Background: This large-scale investigation speaks to the growing concern associated with the use of social media on the psychological wellbeing of adolescents. The study explored time spent using social networking sites as a predictor of teenagers’ self-esteem and appearance satisfaction and the protective role that motivation in school might play. Method: The sample comprised 10,546 adolescents at age 11 and 14 years, from the UK’s Millennium Cohort Study. Multiple linear regression determined cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between use of social media and self-esteem and appearance satisfaction. Time spent using social networking sites significantly predicted teenagers’ self-esteem and appearance satisfaction levels. Results: A significant interaction emerged with school motivation and social networking in relation to appearance satisfaction, suggesting that school motivation may help to buffer the negative effects of online social networking. Conclusion: In response to the ongoing concerns around the increase in adolescents who struggle with difficulties relating to their mental health, the finger of blame is frequently pointed to screen-based methods of social communication. It is anticipated that present findings will prompt the development of new interventions that target time spent using online social networking sites, particularly among teenage girls, during this new era of COVID-19-induced social isolation.

Type: Article
Title: Social media use and adolescents’ self-esteem and appearance satisfaction: The moderating role of school motivation
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.56355/ijfrst.2022.1.2.0028
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.56355/ijfrst.2022.1.2.0028
Language: English
Additional information: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. The images or other third-party material in this article are included in the Creative Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in the credit line; if the material is not included under the Creative Commons license, users will need to obtain permission from the license holder to reproduce the material. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education > IOE - Psychology and Human Development
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10162882
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