Determination of the Relationship Between Social Media and Eating Behaviour and Appearance in University Students

Elif Gökçe İnbaşı; Nihan Çakır Biçer; Kübra Nur Şencan; Havva Nursena Oyanık

doi:10.46332/aemj.1910858

Determination of the Relationship Between Social Media and Eating Behaviour and Appearance in University Students

Abstract

Purpose: This research aimed to investigate the interplay between social media use duration, dietary patterns, and appearance awareness among university students.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional investigation included 356 university students registered at Nigde Omer Halisdemir University for the 2023–2024 academic year. Demographic data and lifestyle habits were collected via face-to-face questionnaires. The effect of social media on eating habits and body image was examined using the Scale of Effects of Social Media on Eating Behavior (SESMEB) and the Appearance-Related Social Media Consciousness Scale (ASMCS).

Results: The mean age of participants was 20.51±1.64 years. Mean body mass index (BMI) was 21.42 kg/m² for females and 23.31 kg/m² for males, with a significant difference between sex (p < 0.05). Daily social media use duration averaged 253.01±165.84 minutes for males and 194.22±136.70 minutes for females (p = 0.001). The mean ASMCS score was higher in females (44.18 ± 15.38) than in males (39.59±18.90) (p = 0.018), whereas SESMEB scores didn’t differ significantly by sex (p > 0.05). No correlations were identified between social media use duration, SESMEB, and ASMCS scores (r = 0.096, p = 0.069 and r = -0.001, p = 0.990). SESMEB and ASMCS scores were also positively correlated (r = 0.182, p < 0.001). Regression analysis showed that social media use duration didn’t significantly predict SESMEB or ASMCS scores (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: In this study, social media use duration did not have a significant effect on the SESMEB and ASMCS scores. However, the positive correlation between the scales suggests that social media-related eating behaviors and appearance awareness may be interconnected. This indicates that the qualitative aspects of social media use may be more influential than use duration.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

Prior to the initiation of the study, ethical approval was derived from the Ethics Committee of Nigde Omer Halisdemir University (Decision No: 2023/18-06, dated November 29, 2023).

Thanks

This research was supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (Project no: 2209-A) Project Support Program.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Nutritional Epidemiology, Social Epidemiology

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Elif Gökçe İnbaşı ^*
0000-0001-6532-1401
Türkiye

Nihan Çakır Biçer
0000-0002-7581-9083
Türkiye

Kübra Nur Şencan This is me
0009-0000-5953-7169
Türkiye

Havva Nursena Oyanık This is me
0009-0009-9314-3943
Türkiye

Publication Date

August 31, 2026

Submission Date

March 16, 2026

Acceptance Date

June 4, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 10 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.46332/aemj.1910858

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA24TM74PR

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

İnbaşı, E. G., Çakır Biçer, N., Şencan, K. N., & Oyanık, H. N. (2026). Determination of the Relationship Between Social Media and Eating Behaviour and Appearance in University Students. Ahi Evran Medical Journal, 10(2), 256-264. https://doi.org/10.46332/aemj.1910858

AMA

1.İnbaşı EG, Çakır Biçer N, Şencan KN, Oyanık HN. Determination of the Relationship Between Social Media and Eating Behaviour and Appearance in University Students. Ahi Evran Med J. 2026;10(2):256-264. doi:10.46332/aemj.1910858

Chicago

İnbaşı, Elif Gökçe, Nihan Çakır Biçer, Kübra Nur Şencan, and Havva Nursena Oyanık. 2026. “Determination of the Relationship Between Social Media and Eating Behaviour and Appearance in University Students”. Ahi Evran Medical Journal 10 (2): 256-64. https://doi.org/10.46332/aemj.1910858.

EndNote

İnbaşı EG, Çakır Biçer N, Şencan KN, Oyanık HN (August 1, 2026) Determination of the Relationship Between Social Media and Eating Behaviour and Appearance in University Students. Ahi Evran Medical Journal 10 2 256–264.

IEEE

[1]E. G. İnbaşı, N. Çakır Biçer, K. N. Şencan, and H. N. Oyanık, “Determination of the Relationship Between Social Media and Eating Behaviour and Appearance in University Students”, Ahi Evran Med J, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 256–264, Aug. 2026, doi: 10.46332/aemj.1910858.

ISNAD

İnbaşı, Elif Gökçe - Çakır Biçer, Nihan - Şencan, Kübra Nur - Oyanık, Havva Nursena. “Determination of the Relationship Between Social Media and Eating Behaviour and Appearance in University Students”. Ahi Evran Medical Journal 10/2 (August 1, 2026): 256-264. https://doi.org/10.46332/aemj.1910858.

JAMA

1.İnbaşı EG, Çakır Biçer N, Şencan KN, Oyanık HN. Determination of the Relationship Between Social Media and Eating Behaviour and Appearance in University Students. Ahi Evran Med J. 2026;10:256–264.

MLA

İnbaşı, Elif Gökçe, et al. “Determination of the Relationship Between Social Media and Eating Behaviour and Appearance in University Students”. Ahi Evran Medical Journal, vol. 10, no. 2, Aug. 2026, pp. 256-64, doi:10.46332/aemj.1910858.

Vancouver

1.Elif Gökçe İnbaşı, Nihan Çakır Biçer, Kübra Nur Şencan, Havva Nursena Oyanık. Determination of the Relationship Between Social Media and Eating Behaviour and Appearance in University Students. Ahi Evran Med J. 2026 Aug. 1;10(2):256-64. doi:10.46332/aemj.1910858