Impact of Social Media Usage on Self-esteem and Body Image among Female Young Adults in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Social media has become an integral part of modern communication, with millions of users worldwide. While it facilitates connectivity and information sharing, its psychological effects, particularly on selfesteem and body image, have raised significant concerns. This study investigates the impact of social mediause on self-esteem and body image among female young adults in Sri Lanka. Using convenience sampling, the study included 251 females with ages ranging from 18 to 26. A Google form that included a demographic questionnaire, the Social Media Use Scale, the Body Image Questionnaire, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale was shared through social media platforms to collect data. A one-way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) confirmed a statistically significant multivariate effect of social media use on both body image and self-esteem, with social media use explaining 8.5% of the variance in the combined dependent variables. Follow-up analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated a significant effect of social media use on body image and self-esteem separately, with small to moderate effect sizes. Further analysis using Welch’s t-test showed that individuals with Low social media use had significant and higher self-esteem (d= 0.459) and more positive body image (d = 0.580) compared to those with High social media use. Findings highlight that social media use has a significant effect on both self-esteem and body image, with higher social media use associated with lower self-esteem and poor body image. Future research should examine usage patterns and cultural influences.