Statistics

Social psychology

Computer science

Schema (genetic algorithms)

Structural equation modeling

Psychology

Mathematics

Self-image

Information retrieval

Self-esteem

Machine learning

Computers in Human Behavior

This study investigated the direct effect of Instagram usage on body satisfaction, whether this effect is mediated by appearance self-schema and self-discrepancy, and whether self-esteem moderates this effect. A total of 273 university students using Instagram were conveniently recruited to do the online survey on demographic characteristics, Instagram usage, self-schema, self-discrepancy, body satisfaction and self-esteem. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling was used to test the research hypotheses. As predicted, the results revealed that appearance self-schema and self-discrepancy mediated the effect of Instagram usage on body satisfaction. Moreover, this mediation effect varied depending on the Instagram users' self-esteem level, such that the negative effect of Instagram usage on body satisfaction through self-schema and self-discrepancy became stronger for those with a lower level of self-esteem.

Self-schema and self-discrepancy mediate the influence of Instagram usage on body image satisfaction among youth