RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIAL MEDIA USE, BODY IMAGE DISSATISFACTION AND SELF ACCEPTANCE

Abstract

   This study investigated relationship between social media, body image dissatisfaction and self-acceptance among female undergraduate students. 237 participants were selected for this study. All participants were females between the ages of 17-29 years, with a mean age of 19.68 and a standard deviation of 2.28. The participants were selected using purposive and convenient sampling technique from a population of all departments in the Faculty of Management and Social Sciences, Caritas University Amorji-Nike, Enugu. Three scales were used in this study which are; Body image satisfaction Scale, Unconditional Self-Acceptance Questionnaire and Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS). Multiple regression statistics was adopted to test the hypotheses. From the results body image dissatisfaction significantly predicted self-acceptance (?= -.19, p < .05) while social media was not a significant predictor of self-acceptance. Results were discussed and recommendations made in line with the literature reviewed. Keywords: body image, social media addiction, self-acceptance, students