Association between Body Image Focused Social Media Usage (BSMU), Resilience, Attachment and Eating-related Problems among High School Students in Bangkok

Nicholas Carriker; Sirichai Hongsanguansri; Chosita Pavasuthipaisit; Komsan Kiatrungrit

doi:10.33192/smj.v75i6.261124

Authors

Nicholas Carriker Master of Science Program in Child, Adolescent and Family Psychology, Affiliate Program Between Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital and National Institute for Child and Family Development, Mahidol University, Bangkok
Sirichai Hongsanguansri Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University
Chosita Pavasuthipaisit Child and Adolescent Mental Health Rajanagarindra Institute, Department of Mental Health, Ministry of Public Health of Thailand, Chiangmai
Komsan Kiatrungrit Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33192/smj.v75i6.261124

Keywords:

Social media, body image, inappropriate eating behaviours, resilience, adolescent-parent relationship

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to find the association among body image focused social media usage (BSMU), resilience, attachment, and eating-related problems among Thai adolescents.

Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive research was conducted with a sample of 495 high school students from three schools in Bangkok. The participants answered an online questionnaire comprised of age, sex, height/weight, BSMU, Body-esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults, Eating Attitudes Test, Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment for Children, and the Thai Resilience Quotient. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze demographic information, body satisfaction, resilience, attachment, and eating-related problems. T-tests, chi-square, and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to explore the associations between these variables.

Results: Mean (SD) age was 17.06 (0.805), with 307 female participants (62%). Time spent on social media was found to be associated with increased risk of binging (AOR (CI) = 1.71 (1.14-2.56)). BSMU was associated with increased risk of inappropriate eating attitudes, binging, purging and using laxative (AOR (CI) = 1.14 (1.03-1.27), 1.14 (1.06-1.22), 1.20 (1.04-1.40), and 1.21 (1.09-1.34) respectively). Higher resilience was found to associated with lower risk in binging (AOR (CI) = 0.45 (0.21-0.97)). However, attachment is not associated with any of eating-related problems.

Conclusion: BSMU usage was associated with inappropriate eating attitudes and behavior. Findings also suggest that higher resilience and stronger attachment were associated with lower risk of eating-related problems. The effectiveness of resilience and attachment improvement programs should be explored to help protect against eating problems.

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