In this theoretical review paper, we provide a developmental–sociocultural framework for the role of social media (SM) in adolescent girls’ body image concerns, and in turn, depressive symptoms and disordered eating. We propose that the features of SM (e.g., idealized images of peers, quantifiable feedback) intersect with adolescent developmental factors (e.g., salience of peer relationships) and sociocultural gender socialization processes (e.g., societal over-emphasis on girls’ and women’s physical appearance) to create the “perfect storm” for exacerbating girls’ body image concerns. We argue that, ultimately, body image concerns may be a key mechanism underlying associations between adolescent girls’ SM use and mental health. In the context of proposing this framework, we provide empirical evidence for how SM may increase adolescent girls’ body image concerns through heightening their focus on (1) other people’s physical appearance (e.g., through exposure to idealized images of peers, celebrities, and SM influencers; quantifiable indicators of approval); and (2) their own appearance (e.g., through appearance-related SM consciousness; exposure to idealized self-images; encouraging over-valuing of appearance; and peer approval of photos/videos). Our framework highlights new avenues for future research on adolescent girls’ SM use and mental health, which recognize the central role of body image.

在这篇理论综述论文中，我们为社交媒体（SM）在青春期女孩身体形象问题以及抑郁症状和饮食失调中的作用提供了一个发展-社会文化框架。我们认为，SM 的特征（例如，同龄人的理想化形象、可量化的反馈）与青少年发展因素（例如，同伴关系的显着性）和社会文化性别社会化过程（例如，社会过度强调女孩和妇女的外表）相交叉。 ）制造了加剧女孩身体形象担忧的“完美风暴”。我们认为，最终，身体形象问题可能是青春期女孩使用 SM 与心理健康之间关联的关键机制。在提出这个框架的背景下，我们提供了经验证据，说明 SM 如何通过加强对 (1) 他人外表的关注（例如，通过接触同龄人、名人和 SM 的理想化形象）来增加青春期女孩对身体形象的关注。影响者；可量化的认可指标）；（2）他们自己的外表（例如，通过与外表相关的 SM 意识；暴露于理想化的自我形象；鼓励对外表的高估；以及同伴对照片/视频的认可）。我们的框架强调了未来研究青春期女孩 SM 使用和心理健康的新途径，认识到身体形象的核心作用。