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Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran. , abbas.bakhshipour@gmail.com
Abstract: (24 Views)
Background: The escalating utilization of social networking platforms, coupled with the resultant increase in social comparisons, has rendered body image concern a prevalent psychological preoccupation among university students. Salient psychological constructs, such as self-compassion and experiential avoidance, may exert a significant influence on the intensity and sequelae of this concern. While extant research has investigated these variables in isolation, a concurrent examination can yield a more comprehensive understanding of the pertinent psychological processes.
Aims: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between social media addiction and body image concerns, with the mediating roles of self-compassion and experiential avoidance among university students.
Methods: The present research employed a descriptive-correlational design, specifically utilizing structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population comprised all students enrolled at the University of Tabriz during the 2024-2025 academic year. From this population, a sample of 353 participants was selected using a multi-stage random cluster sampling method. The instruments utilized in this study included the Body Image Concern Inventory (Littleton et al., 2003), the Mobile-Based Social Media Addiction Questionnaire (Khajeh Ahmadi et al., 2016), the Self-Compassion Scale (Neff, 2003), and the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (Hayes et al., 2011). Structural equation modeling was employed for data analysis using SPSS version 27 and AMOS version 26.
Results: The results indicated that social media addiction (β= 0.36) and experiential avoidance
(β= 0.29) had a significant positive direct effect on body image concerns, while self-compassion
(β= -0.32) had a significant negative direct effect. Additionally, social media addiction had a significant negative direct effect on self-compassion (β= -0.25) and a significant positive direct effect on experiential avoidance (β= 0.54) (P< 0.05).
Conclusion: Deficits in self-compassion and experiential avoidance play a key role in the relationship between social media addiction and body image concerns. Therefore, attention to these variables is essential in prevention and treatment contexts.
Aims: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between social media addiction and body image concerns, with the mediating roles of self-compassion and experiential avoidance among university students.
Methods: The present research employed a descriptive-correlational design, specifically utilizing structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population comprised all students enrolled at the University of Tabriz during the 2024-2025 academic year. From this population, a sample of 353 participants was selected using a multi-stage random cluster sampling method. The instruments utilized in this study included the Body Image Concern Inventory (Littleton et al., 2003), the Mobile-Based Social Media Addiction Questionnaire (Khajeh Ahmadi et al., 2016), the Self-Compassion Scale (Neff, 2003), and the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (Hayes et al., 2011). Structural equation modeling was employed for data analysis using SPSS version 27 and AMOS version 26.
Results: The results indicated that social media addiction (β= 0.36) and experiential avoidance
(β= 0.29) had a significant positive direct effect on body image concerns, while self-compassion
(β= -0.32) had a significant negative direct effect. Additionally, social media addiction had a significant negative direct effect on self-compassion (β= -0.25) and a significant positive direct effect on experiential avoidance (β= 0.54) (P< 0.05).
Conclusion: Deficits in self-compassion and experiential avoidance play a key role in the relationship between social media addiction and body image concerns. Therefore, attention to these variables is essential in prevention and treatment contexts.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2025/04/3 | Accepted: 2025/06/7 | Published: 2026/02/20
Received: 2025/04/3 | Accepted: 2025/06/7 | Published: 2026/02/20
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This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) License. |
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)