Association Between Social Networking Service Use and Body Image Among Elementary School Children in Japan
The number of studies suggesting that social networking services (SNSs) use poses a risk to children’s body image continue to expand, but most studies have focused on adolescents. The study aimed to examine the associations between SNS use and body image among elementary school children in Japan. Th...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/15/7/125 |
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| author | Asami Baba Masumi Suzuki Rikako Yoshitake Yumiko Inose Naomi Omi |
| author_facet | Asami Baba Masumi Suzuki Rikako Yoshitake Yumiko Inose Naomi Omi |
| author_sort | Asami Baba |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The number of studies suggesting that social networking services (SNSs) use poses a risk to children’s body image continue to expand, but most studies have focused on adolescents. The study aimed to examine the associations between SNS use and body image among elementary school children in Japan. This study examined the relationship between SNSs use and body size perception and preference, body size misperception, and ideal body image among 1261 preadolescents (611 boys and 650 girls), aged 8–12 years (mean age = 9.64; SD =1.15; 52% girls), separately by sex. Using hierarchical multivariate linear regression analyses and logistic regression analyses, we examined body image factors and SNS use as the dependent and independent variables, respectively. Findings indicate that children who use SNSs do not significantly differ from nonusers regarding body dissatisfaction. However, SNS use is positively associated with body size misperception in girls. Additionally, for boys and girls, SNS use seems to increase the likelihood of admiring the body image of media figures rather than friends or classmates. Understanding how SNS use influences body image remains important for promoting healthy development in children. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c91dc9f44ef8454c88adc2d4ad753436 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2174-8144 2254-9625 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education |
| spelling | doaj-art-c91dc9f44ef8454c88adc2d4ad7534362025-08-20T03:07:54ZengMDPI AGEuropean Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education2174-81442254-96252025-07-0115712510.3390/ejihpe15070125Association Between Social Networking Service Use and Body Image Among Elementary School Children in JapanAsami Baba0Masumi Suzuki1Rikako Yoshitake2Yumiko Inose3Naomi Omi4Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8574, JapanGakuen no Mori Compulsory Education School, Ibaraki 305-0816, JapanGraduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8574, JapanDepartment of Health and Nutrition, Faculty of Human Sciences, Tokiwa University, Ibaraki 310-0911, JapanGraduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8574, JapanThe number of studies suggesting that social networking services (SNSs) use poses a risk to children’s body image continue to expand, but most studies have focused on adolescents. The study aimed to examine the associations between SNS use and body image among elementary school children in Japan. This study examined the relationship between SNSs use and body size perception and preference, body size misperception, and ideal body image among 1261 preadolescents (611 boys and 650 girls), aged 8–12 years (mean age = 9.64; SD =1.15; 52% girls), separately by sex. Using hierarchical multivariate linear regression analyses and logistic regression analyses, we examined body image factors and SNS use as the dependent and independent variables, respectively. Findings indicate that children who use SNSs do not significantly differ from nonusers regarding body dissatisfaction. However, SNS use is positively associated with body size misperception in girls. Additionally, for boys and girls, SNS use seems to increase the likelihood of admiring the body image of media figures rather than friends or classmates. Understanding how SNS use influences body image remains important for promoting healthy development in children.https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/15/7/125body imagebody size perception and preferencebody size misperceptionideal body imagepreadolescentssocial networking services |
| spellingShingle | Asami Baba Masumi Suzuki Rikako Yoshitake Yumiko Inose Naomi Omi Association Between Social Networking Service Use and Body Image Among Elementary School Children in Japan European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education body image body size perception and preference body size misperception ideal body image preadolescents social networking services |
| title | Association Between Social Networking Service Use and Body Image Among Elementary School Children in Japan |
| title_full | Association Between Social Networking Service Use and Body Image Among Elementary School Children in Japan |
| title_fullStr | Association Between Social Networking Service Use and Body Image Among Elementary School Children in Japan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Association Between Social Networking Service Use and Body Image Among Elementary School Children in Japan |
| title_short | Association Between Social Networking Service Use and Body Image Among Elementary School Children in Japan |
| title_sort | association between social networking service use and body image among elementary school children in japan |
| topic | body image body size perception and preference body size misperception ideal body image preadolescents social networking services |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/15/7/125 |
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