Abstract:
Introduction: The widespread use of social media has raised concerns about its impact on mental health among the youth. Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a debilitating mental disorder, involving an excessive fixation on the belief that certain body parts are distorted. The study sought to determine the relationship between social media use and body dysmorphia symptoms and explore reasons influencing these. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study design and a case series were utilized. The participants(n = 154) were adolescents 15–19 years old in Zamboanga City, Philippines. Self-administered questionnaires were utilized to measure social media use, and the Appearance Anxiety Inventory (AAI) questionnaires were used to screen for BDD. Acase series was done through key informant interviews among the three highest-scoring participants on the AAI. Descriptive statistics, Chi square test, t-test, Pearson correlation, and Spearman correlation were utilized in the study. Results: Positive BDD screening was significantly associated with increased time spent on TikTok and was correlated with posting text‐based comments on one’s profile, looking at photos and posts on others’ profiles, and editing photos before posting. Increased time on Facebook, TikTok, and total time spent on all platforms positively correlated with AAI scores, while time on Threads exhibited a negative correlation. Conclusion: The study presents the concerning impact of social media on the mental health of young people, associating significant use to increased symptoms of BDD. It underscores the importance of fostering digital literacy and responsible social media usage to mitigate these negative effects among adolescents in Zamboanga City.

Published Date:
September 9, 2024

Name of Journal or Publication:
Asian Journal of Public Health Practice

Volume/Issue No.:
Volume 1 Issue 1