This study examined the relationship between self-esteem, online peer influence, social networking site usage, and body satisfaction in teen girls in the United States. The study found that self-esteem significantly predicted body image dissatisfaction, but that online peer influence and social networking site usage did not. However, when considered together, self-esteem, online peer influence, and social networking site usage did significantly predict body image dissatisfaction. The findings suggest that for teen girls, self-esteem is an important factor influencing body satisfaction.

1. The Relationship between Self-Esteem,
Online Peer Influence, Social
Networking Site Usage and Body
Satisfaction for Teen Girls in the United
States
Elisa Heiken
September 19, 2012

2. Why did I choose this topic?

4. Introduction
As of December 31, 2011, the global Internet audience has reached over 2.2 billion
people (Internet World Stats, 2012).

6. Of the 800 million Facebook
users, 11% are between the
ages of 13 and 17.

7. The purpose of this research is to examine SNS
usage and its relationship to the self-esteem,
body image, and online peer influence of teen
users in the United States.

8. • In the present study, the SNS usage habits of teens
between the ages of 14 and 16 are assessed
through an online survey.
• The study examines the relationship(s) between
teens’ use of SNSs and their self-esteem, body
image satisfaction, and online peer influence.

9. Background
Adolescence is the period of time in which the
complex process of transition is made from
childhood to adulthood.

10. Research has shown that females will
experience a greater sense of self-consciousness
as opposed to their male adolescent
counterparts.
(Enright, Lapsley, & Shukla, 1979; Rankin, Lane, Gibbons, & Gerrard, 2004).

11. I chose to focus on teen girls, between the ages
of 14 and 16, because this is the time when
peers seemingly have the most significant
influence.

12. Body Image
Preoccupation with and dissatisfaction with body image are widespread among
American adolescents, with 60% of adolescent girls reporting a desire to alter their
shape or size (Ricciardelli & McCabe, 2001) and have been found to be important
precursors to a range of eating disorders (Fisher, Golden, Katzman, & Kreipe, 1995).

13. Adolescent girls have consistently been exposed to the thin
ideal in media and school materials, and are now being
exposed through SNSs.
“People do not divide their world into the physical and the online world;
rather people tie the two together to supplement each other.”
(Boogart, 2004)

14. Hypotheses
• Hypothesis one: Self-esteem will predict body image dissatisfaction.
• Higher self-esteem ⇒ lower body dissatisfaction.
• Lower self-esteem ⇒higher body dissatisfaction.
• Hypothesis two: Online body peer influence will predict body image dissatisfaction.
• Higher online body influence ⇒ higher body image dissatisfaction.
• Hypothesis three: There will be an interaction between self-esteem and body peer influence as related to body
image dissatisfaction.
• Low self-esteem + high levels of body peer influence ⇒ higher body image dissatisfaction .
• Higher self-esteem + lower online body peer influence ⇒ lower body dissatisfaction.
• Hypothesis four: There will be an interaction between self-esteem and online body peer influence and SNS
usage as related to body image.
• Lower self-esteem + higher online body peer influence + more time spent online ⇒ highest body image
dissatisfaction

15. Methods
62 teen girls between the ages of 14 and 16 were asked to complete an
online survey containing:
• Questionnaire that asked about SNS usage
• The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale
• The Body Areas Satisfaction Scale (BASS)
• The Friends as a Source of Influence Scale (original and modified)
• The Physical Appearance Comparison Scale (original and modified)
• Appearance Conversations with Friends (original and modified)

18. Table 2. Frequencies of Categorical Internet/Social Networking
Usage
Variable N %
Internet Usage
Several Times a day 53 85.5
About once a day 7 11.3
3-5 days a week 1 1.6
Every few weeks 1 1.6
Social Networking Site Most Used
Facebook 54 87.1
Tumblr 3 4.8
Twitter 4 6.5
Via Text Message 1 1.6
Access to Social Networking
Personal Computer 49 79
Shared Computer at home 28 45.2
School Computer 10 16.1
Library Computer 2 3.2
Cellphone 38 61.3
iPad/iPod 5 8.1
Main reason for using Social Networking Sites
Communicate with long-distance friends 8 12.9
Stay in touch friends 42 67.7
To arrange to meet with friends in person 7 11.3
To flirt 1 1.6
Other 4 6.5
How often update status
Never 16 25.8
Once or twice a month 24 38.7
Once or twice a week 17 27.4
Every day 4 6.5
Multiple times per day 1 1.6

19. Table 3. Descriptive Statistics for Continuous Internet/Social Networking Usage Variables
Variable mean sd range
Time spent online on weekdays (hours/day) 3.53 4.18 .15-23
Time spent online on weekend (hours/day) 3.68 2.55 .20-15
Visit Social Networking Sites (days/week) 5.92 1.33 1-7
Time spent on social networking sites (hours) 1.4 0.85 .5-4
Number of social networking frequent contacts 18.08 20.1 2-100
Number of contacts on preferred social networking site 636.14 371.07 1.41-1812
Social networking contacts: Girl/Boy Ratio 2.42 0.915 1-3

21. Figure 2. Partial Regression Plot of Self-Esteem Predicting
Body Dissatisfaction

22. Discussion

23. Summary and Discussion of Findings
• Hypothesis one. Self-esteem will predict body
image dissatisfaction.
– Self-esteem scores significantly predicted body
image dissatisfaction.

24. Summary and Discussion of Findings
• Hypothesis two. Online body peer influence
will predict body image dissatisfaction.
– Online body peer influence was not significantly
related to body dissatisfaction.

25. Summary and Discussion of Findings
• Hypothesis three. There will be an interaction
between self-esteem and body peer influence
as related to body image dissatisfaction.
– Online body peer influence did not play a
significant role in body image dissatisfaction.

26. Summary and Discussion of Findings
• Hypothesis four. There will be an interaction
between self-esteem and online body peer
influence and SNS usage as related to body
image.
– The four predictors together significantly
predicted body image dissatisfaction.
– However, when accounted for separately, the only
significant predictors were self-esteem and
girl/boy ratio.

27. General Implications of Findings
• Self-esteem is predictive of body image
satisfaction.
• The present study did not support
Valkenburg’s supposition that SNS usage
directly affects self-esteem.

28. The findings from the present study were not
consistent with findings from studies in the past
that suggested a relationship between time
spent on Facebook and body image issues.
(University of Haifa, 2011, The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard
Pratt, 2012).

29. Possible reasons for different findings
• Mixed gender/aged sample • Homogeneous sample
• No differentiation of • It is unclear if the samples
Facebook usage among ages differ in terms of pre-
existing body image
concerns, cultural
beliefs, and the ways in
which SNS sites are being
used.
• Potential cultural

30. Research Implications
• Boy/Girl Friend ratio
• Appearance Conversations with
Friends Scale-Online Version
• Measures to control for parental
influence

31. Clinical Implications
• How are clients using SNS?
• Boy/Girl Friend ratio
• Involvement of media viewing in Facebook
(through Liked pages)
• Tailored importance of body image
satisfaction to the client

32. Research Limitations
• Growth rate and changing of SNSs
• Limited sample
• Recruitment methods
• Self-report format

33. Considerations for Future Research
• Creation of a scale that can be normed and
validated specific to SNS usage.
• More diverse sample
• Differences among adolescent men