Focus on self-presentation on social media is associated with perfectionism and eating disturbance

BACKGROUND: Social media use, perfectionism and eating disturbance has all increased over the last decades. Some studies indicate that there is a relationship between focus on self-presentation and social media, as well as how other present themselves on social media and eating disturbances. Nevertheless, no previous studies have investigated the link between focus on self-presentation and upward social comparison on social media, perfectionism and eating disturbances, which is the aim of the present study. METHODS: The present study is based on a cross-sectional survey from the “LifeOnSoMe”-study (N = 3725), conducted in 2020 and 2021. Respondents were high school students (mean age 17.3 years, 55% females) in Bergen, Norway. Multiple regression analysis was performed where SPAUSCIS, a measure of self-presentation and upward social comparison was the independent variable. Perfectionism and eating disturbance were dependent variables. Self-reported age, gender and subjective socioeconomic status were used as covariates, as well as frequency and duration of social media use. Regression models were performed to compare proportions across the median split of SPAUSCIS. RESULTS: The multiple regression analysis showed that increased focus on self-presentation and upward social comparison on social media were positively associated with both perfectionism (standard coefficient 0.28) and eating disturbances. A stronger association for girls than boys was found for eating disturbance (standard coefficient 0.39 for girls and 0.29 for boys). There was no gender moderation for perfectionism. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggests that focus on self-presentation and upward social comparison on social media is associated with perfectionism and eating disturbance. As such, promoting a healthy use of social media could be established through a focus on increasing adolescents’ ability to reflect on and think critically about self-presentation and upward social comparison on social media. KEY MESSAGES: • Focus on self-presentation and upward social comparison on social media is associated with perfectionism and eating disturbance among adolescents. • Promoting healthy use of social media could be established through a focus on increasing adolescents’ ability to reflect critically on self-presentation and upward social comparison on social media.