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Check Your Likes but Move Your Body! How the Use of Social Media Is Influencing Pre-Teens Body and the Role of Active Lifestyles

Author

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  • Simone Digennaro

    (Department of Human Sciences, Society and Health, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, 03043 Cassino, Italy)

  • Alice Iannaccone

    (Department of Human Sciences, Society and Health, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, 03043 Cassino, Italy)

Abstract

The use of social media has been increasing among pre-teens, affecting body satisfaction and leading to the development of a dualism between real and virtual identities. It is also associated with low physical activity levels. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the influence of dualism and physical activity levels on body satisfaction in male and female pre-teens. A sample of 2378 Italian pre-teens (Mage = 12.02 years, SD = 0.82) was recruited. Two anonymous and self-administered questionnaires were used to investigate social media use, the representation of the bodies through the social media, body image, and physical activity levels. Descriptive statistics were computed for all variables; Pearson’s Chi square and Cramer’s V were calculated to assess gender differences. Linear mixed models were used to explore the association between body satisfaction (dependent variable) and physical activity levels and the dualism (independent variables). It emerged that physical activity positively influences body satisfaction for both males and females; dualism negatively influences body satisfaction only for females. Therefore, it can be assumed that the engagement of pre-teens in offline activities counteracts the undesirable consequences of the beauty ideal models proposed by image-centred social media platforms.

Suggested Citation

  • Simone Digennaro & Alice Iannaccone, 2023. "Check Your Likes but Move Your Body! How the Use of Social Media Is Influencing Pre-Teens Body and the Role of Active Lifestyles," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-16, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:4:p:3046-:d:1061089
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rasa Jankauskiene & Migle Baceviciene & Laima Trinkuniene, 2020. "Examining Body Appreciation and Disordered Eating In Adolescents of Different Sports Practice: Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-17, June.
    2. Alice Iannaccone & Daniele Conte & Cristina Cortis & Andrea Fusco, 2021. "Usefulness of Linear Mixed-Effects Models to Assess the Relationship between Objective and Subjective Internal Load in Team Sports," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-11, January.
    3. Sonia Livingstone & Giovanna Mascheroni & M.F. Murru, 2011. "Social networking among European children: new findings on privacy, identity and connection," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 59302, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
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