Examining the Relationship Between Social Media Use and Addiction and Body Dysmorphic Disorder Symptoms: A Meta-Analytic Review

Relative to body image, comparatively less research has examined the relationship between social media (SM) use and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). The current meta-analysis examined the cross-sectional relationship between BDD symptoms and SM use/addiction. Of the 1619 studies initially identified, 16 met inclusion criteria. Results revealed a moderate aggregate correlation between SM addiction and BDD symptoms (r = .38, p n = 9), which was significantly stronger than the weak aggregate correlation revealed between frequency of SM use and BDD symptoms (r = .18, p n = 10). Of the moderators examined, BDD measure, sex/gender, and SM platform were found to significantly moderate the relationship between BDD and SM addiction. Specifically, studies that measured BDD via the Body Image Concern Inventory, that had a lower percentage of female participants, and that focused on general SM use rather than Instagram use, produced stronger correlations. However, the latter two correlations were only significant when an outlier was removed. Although our results suggest a relationship exists between BDD and SM use/addiction, more experimental and longitudinal research is needed before the direction or presence of causality between these two variables can be determined.