Author: Pan, Wenjing; Mu, Zhe; Zhao, Zexuan; Tang, Zheng
Description: This study examined two ways of using the TikTok application (active vs. passive use), and their association with female users’ self-esteem pertaining to appearance and weight. By adopting a cross-sectional online survey design, this study recruited 7,750 adult female TikTok users from China (Douyin), and acquired self-reported data on 2 ways of using TikTok, state-level social comparison, appearance-esteem, weight-esteem, body mass index, and age. The results indicated that passive and active TikTok uses were negatively and positively associated with participants’ appearance- and weight-esteem, respectively. A mediation analysis revealed that the participants’ state-level social comparison while using TikTok mediated the association between two ways of TikTok use, and their effects on appearance- and weight-esteem. These results help us understand the complicated impact of TikTok use on body image, and design campaigns for promoting body acceptance.
Subject headings: Adult; Humans; Female; Body Image; Social Comparison; Social Media; Cross-Sectional Studies; Self Concept; TikTok; Active use; Body-esteem; Passive use; Social comparison
Publication year: 2023
Journal or book title: Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking
Volume: 26
Issue: 1
Pages: 3-10
Find the full text: https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cyber.2022.0169
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Serial number: 4006