(PS5-76) TikTok use moderates the relation between appearance comparison, body dissatisfaction, and eating pathology among young adults

Abstract Text:

Introduction: Body dissatisfaction is associated with heightened risk for disordered eating and related psychological difficulties in young adults (1, 2). Social media use is consistently associated with increased appearance comparisons, a key mechanism implicated in body dissatisfaction (3). While the existing literature has centered on traditional platforms like Instagram and Facebook, the influence of newer, highly visual platforms such as TikTok remains underexplored. Given TikTok’s rapid rise in popularity and its emphasis on appearance-oriented content (4), further research is needed to clarify its role in the development of body dissatisfaction. The current study examined the interaction between TikTok use, appearance comparison, body dissatisfaction, and eating pathology.

Methods: 861 undergraduate students completed an online survey. The majority of the sample (99.2%) were young adults (M = 18.75; SD = 1.79; 18-25 years), females (79.9%), White (84.2%), and had an average Body Mass Index of 23.54 (SD = 5.24). Standardized measures were used to assess appearance comparison (UPACS; 5) and eating disorder pathology (EDE-Q; 6). TikTok usage was calculated based on self-reported frequency and duration of engagement (7), and body dissatisfaction was measured using a combined score of the shape and weight subscales of the EDE-Q (8). Participants reported the type of content they most frequently engaged in and their primary motivations for TikTok use. Correlations among all variables were examined, and two moderation analyses were conducted to test whether TikTok usage moderated the relation between appearance comparison and 1) body dissatisfaction or 2) eating pathology.

Results: All variables were significantly associated (r = .20-.60). There was a significant moderation effect of TikTok usage on the association between appearance comparison and body dissatisfaction (∆R2 = .01, F(1, 856) = 9.34, p = .002). Additionally, the association between appearance comparison and eating pathology was significantly moderated by TikTok usage (∆R2 = .01, F(1, 856) = 12.11, p < .001). Participants’ self-reported content focused on humor, beauty/fashion, and fitness videos.

Discussion: Results indicate significant moderation effects, where the association between appearance comparison and outcome variables was greater for participants who use TikTok more. In combination with previous research indicating that frequent engagement with TikTok can intensify appearance comparisons (9), these results suggest the possibility that TikTok usage exacerbates eating pathology and body dissatisfaction. Monitoring TikTok usage among populations with elevated risk for disordered eating and related concerns may thus be beneficial.