Physical Appearance Comparisons on Social Networking Sites, Body Appreciation and Depression

Öz

The first aim of this study is to examine the associations between the intensity of using social networking sites, the frequency of making appearance comparisons in those sites, and the users’ body appreciation and depression. The second aim is to investigate the roles of two variables (self-compassion and relational closeness level) in the relationship between the physical appearance comparisons made in the social networking sites and the users’ body appreciation. Participants were 228 students of Bulent Ecevit University. The Social Network Usage Intensity Scale, Inclusion-of-Other-in-the-Self Scale, Self-Compassion Scale, State Depression Scale, The Body Appreciation Scale, some items about the frequency of making appearance comparisons in social networks, and a socio-demographic form were applied. A structural model was tested in which the intensity of social network usage was associated to depression through a serial mediation of appearance comparisons and body appreciation. The findings of the study pointed out that an increase in the use of social networks was related to an increase in the frequency of making appearance comparisons, which in turn was related to increases in body appreciation and depression. In line of the findings, it can be said the consequence of social network use on depression depends on the social comparison process during the usage, and the adverse effect of appearance comparisons may be reduced if the users are self-compassionate. 

Anahtar Kelimeler

• social networking
• appreciation
• depression

Sosyal Ağ Sitelerinde Fiziksel Görünüm Karşılaştırmaları, Bedeni Beğenme ve Depresyon

Öz

Bu çalışmanın amaçlarından birincisi, kişilerin sosyal ağ sitelerini kullanma yoğunlukları, sosyal ağlarda kendi görünümlerini başkalarınınkilerle karşılaştırma sıklıkları, bedenlerini beğenme ve depresyon düzeyleri arasındaki ilişkileri incelemektir. İkincisi, beden görünümüne yönelik sosyal karşılaştırmaların bedenini beğenmeyle ilişkisinde, biri bireysel, diğeri kişilerarası nitelikte iki değişkenin (öz-şefkat ve ilişkisel yakınlık düzeyi) rolünü sorgulamaktır. Bülent Ecevit Üniversitesi’nin 228 öğrencisi çalışmaya katılmıştır. Katılımcılara Bedeni Beğenme Ölçeği, Durumsal Depresyon Envanteri, Öz-Şefkat Ölçeği, Diğerini Kendi Benliğine Katma Ölçeği, Sosyal Ağ Kullanım Yoğunluğu Ölçeği, sosyal ağlarda fiziksel görünüm karşılaştırması yapmaya ilişkin sorular ve Demografik Bilgi Formu uygulandı. Sosyal ağ kullanım yoğunluğunun, fiziksel görünüme dair yukarı yönde karşılaştırmaları daha fazla yapmak ve kendi görünümünü beğenmemek yoluyla dolaylı biçimde depresyonla ilişkilendiği yapısal bir model sınandı. Sosyal ağ kullanımındaki artışın, fiziksel görünüme dair yukarı yönde karşılaştırmalardaki artışla; yukarı yönde karşılaştırmalardaki artışın, kendi görünümünü daha az beğenmekle; kendi görünümünü beğenmedeki azalmanın ise depresyon düzeylerindeki artışla ilişkili olduğu görüldü. Çalışmanın bulguları, sosyal ağ kullanımının depresyon üzerindeki etkisinin, bu kullanım sırasındaki sosyal karşılaştırma sürecine bağlı olduğuna işaret etmiştir. Dahası kullanıcıların öz-şefkati yüksekse, görünüm karşılaştırması yapmanın olumsuz etkisinin azalacağına işaret eden bulgulara ulaşılmıştır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• sosyal ağ kullanımı
• sosyal karşılaştırma
• bedeni beğenme
• depresyon
• öz-şefkat

Kaynakça

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