Women's Appearance-Based Social Comparison and Dysmorphic Concern: The Moderating Role of Body Appreciation Among Social Media Users

Growing evidence documents the association between social media use and body image-related difficulties. Nonetheless, the potential effects of social media use and the psychological processes that contribute to body dysmorphic concerns severity remain unclear. The current study examined whether body appreciation may buffer against the pervasive effect of appearance-based social comparison (both with proximal and distal targets) on dysmorphic concern in a sample of 346 women, users of social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok). Also, differences between these social media groups regarding the study's variables were explored. Results revealed that TikTok and Instagram users presented higher levels of dysmorphic concern and more unfavourable appearance-based social comparison. The path models confirmed that body appreciation moderates the association between appearance-based social comparison (with both proximal and distal targets) and dysmorphic concern among women users of social media platforms. These findings suggest that, for the same levels of appearance-based social comparison, women users of social media with more body appreciation abilities tend to present lower levels of dysmorphic concern. Though these data are preliminary, findings suggest the pertinence of developing body appreciation in women as a protective mechanism against the unfavourable appearance-based social comparison via social media.