Title: The Impact of Social Media Usage on Self-Esteem and Body Image Among University Students

Abstract

The influence of Social media on individual perceptions regarding their bodies and sense of self-worth has emerged as a main area of exploration in current psychology. Social media websites like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter provide mediums to communicate, self-expression, and exchange of information, but these platforms also create issues regarding self-image and self-perception. This study tends to explore the relationship between social media and how individuals perceive self in terms of self-worth and body image, and the relationship of the time spent on such platforms with these psychological variables. These variables (social media usage, self-esteem and body image) were measured using psychological instruments like the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). A sample of 165  University of Swat students was assessed by the use of these psychological instruments to examine how social media usage exacerbates self-esteem regarding body image. According to statistical analysis, there were insignificant gender-based differences in self-esteem; however, male participants' self-esteem was slightly higher than that of female participants. The study also showed that idealized body image had a significant impact on female participants, and they were more unsatisfied with their bodies. In contrast, male participants were more satisfied with their body image.  Additionally, statistical analysis also showed that those individuals who were married were more satisfied with their body image. People who are unmarried are more unsatisfied as compared to those people who are married. In addition to that , statistical analysis also showed that social media usage was negatively correleted with body image and self-esteem,showing that high social usage is linked with low self esteem and negative body perception.Conversely, a positive relation between body image and self-esteem was found, suggesting that people who have higher self-esteem also have a more positive perception of their physical appearance.