The Impact of Criticism and Social Media on College Females’ Mental Health

Abstract

Research has shown that utilizing social media sites and receiving weight-teasing or critical comments about one’s body appearance can lead to depression, anxiety, and disordered eating behaviors. However, research examining all three constructs together is lacking. Using objectification theory (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997) and social comparison theory (Festinger, 1954) as the theoretical framework, this quantitative correlational design utilizes a cross-sectional survey methodology to explore the intersecting relationships of social media usage, criticism, disordered eating behaviors, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms in females in college between the ages of 18-24. Instruments used in the study included a modified version of the Social Hassles Questionnaire (Muscat & Long, 2008), the EDE-Q (Fairburn & Beglin, 1994), and the PHQ-9 (Spitzer et al., 1999), and the GAD-7 (Spitzer et al., 2006). Results indicated that there are relationships between emotional reaction to critical comments and DE, anxiety, and depression.