What about young adults’ photo manipulation activity? The predictive role of body shame and the mediating effect of body esteem

Gioia, F; McLean, Sian; Rega, V; Boursier, V

doi:10.26181/25591101.v1

What about young adults’ photo manipulation activity? The predictive role of body shame and the mediating effect of body esteem

journal contribution

posted on 2024-04-12, 02:05 authored by F Gioia, Sian McLeanSian McLean, V Rega, V Boursier

In recent years, the centrality of photos on Social Networking Sites (SNSs) dramatically increased among young adults. The particular attention addressed to visual self-presentation might lead to body shame, influencing individuals’ body esteem and, likely, promoting photo manipulation (PM). Indeed, manipulating photos to alter how the body appears might be driven by the need to improve self-esteem and reduce body shame, albeit by digitally modified body image. Consequently, two studies were conducted. Study1 psychometrically evaluated the PM scale in a sample of Italian young adults (N = 922). Study2 verified the direct and indirect effect of body shame on PM, testing the mediating effect of body esteem and the moderating effect of gender (N = 595). The PM scale for young adults showed good psychometric properties. The tested mediation model revealed that body shame was both directly and indirectly associated with PM, via body esteem appearance in both male and female participants and via body esteem attribution among young men (R2 = 0.204; p <.001). Implications for young adults’ appearance-related issues are discussed.

History

Publication Date

2024-03-01

Journal

Current Psychology

Volume

43

Pagination

10418 - 10433

Publisher

Springer Nature

ISSN

1046-1310

Rights Statement

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