Mirror, mirror, on the social media ... WeChat Moment usage and body image disturbance among female college students: Evidence from ecological momentary assessments data
Description
Many women currently experience dissatisfaction with their body shape and physical appearance. Such body image disturbances cause many negative effects. The current study investigates the associations between WeChat Moment usage and body image disturbance in the Chinese cultural context, as well as the mediating role of appearance social comparison and the moderating role of self-esteem using the ecological momentary assessment method. Based on a sample of 127 female college students who responded to the interested constructs five times per day for five consecutive days, the current study found that WeChat Moment usage was indirectly associated with body image disturbance through appearance social comparison, and this process was more significant among individuals with low self-esteem. These findings indicated that it is necessary to pay more attention to proper usage of WeChat Moment, especially for people with low self-esteem.