Paper Summary
Methodology
This study used an online survey to gather data on social media use and muscle dysmorphia (MD) symptoms among 95 young Australian men. Participants, aged 18 to 34, were recruited through university flyers, gyms, and social media ads targeting those interested in fitness. Excluded from the study were individuals with previous diagnoses related to body dysmorphia or eating disorders, ensuring a general population sample without prior clinical concerns.
Participants completed the survey on Qualtrics, which included questions about the frequency of viewing celebrity, fashion, and fitness content on social networking sites (SNSs), the importance they placed on received likes and comments, and their MD symptom levels. Measures were carefully adapted for SNS-specific contexts, making it possible to investigate associations between specific social media activities and MD indicators.
Key Results
The findings showed that the importance placed on receiving likes and comments was a significant predictor of MD symptoms, even after accounting for demographics like age, BMI, and workout frequency. Other activities—such as viewing celebrity, fashion, and fitness content—were positively correlated with MD symptoms but did not independently predict MD when controlling for demographic factors. Overall, the study suggests that social approval on SNSs (via likes and comments) may play a substantial role in MD symptom development.
Study Limitations
The study’s cross-sectional design limits its ability to determine causation; it can only suggest associations. Additionally, the use of self-reported data may introduce bias, as participants’ perceptions and experiences with social media content could vary. Although recruitment was from general gym members, the advertising may have attracted a specific subgroup of men particularly focused on fitness, potentially skewing results. Lastly, since MD was not clinically diagnosed in participants, findings are limited to self-reported symptoms rather than confirmed MD cases.
Discussion & Takeaways
The study highlights that men who place high value on social feedback (likes and comments) might experience greater muscle dysmorphia symptoms. This suggests that the interactive components of social media, which offer immediate validation or rejection, could be more influential than passive content viewing alone. These insights are crucial for developing mental health interventions, especially those targeting social media literacy and self-perception in young men. Educating young men about managing social feedback and understanding the unrealistic standards often depicted online could be an effective strategy in reducing MD symptoms.
Funding & Disclosures
This study was conducted without external funding. The authors disclosed no financial interests or conflicts of interest related to this research.
