Young females experience higher body image dissatisfaction associated with a high social media use: a cross-sectional study in Omani university students

• Published in: Middle East current psychiatry (Cairo) 2024-12, Vol.31 (1), p.85-10, Article 85
• Main Authors: Al Riyami, Yahya Salim, Al Senani, Intisar Hamood, Al Brashdi, Abdallah Salim, Al Balushi, Nazar Ismail, Almarabheh, Amer Jebril, Ahmed, Jamil
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Body image; Body image dissatisfaction; Body image perception; Body mass index; Consent; Cross-sectional studies; Females; Gender; Income distribution; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Oman; Polls & surveys; Psychiatry; Questionnaires; Self esteem; Self image; Social media; Social networks; Standard scores; Study abroad; University students; Variables
• ISSN: 2090-5416; 2090-5408; 2090-5416
• DOI: 10.1186/s43045-024-00477-8

Background This study aimed to assess body image dissatisfaction in Omani university students across gender and age and explore the potential impact of social media use on body image dissatisfaction. This cross-sectional online survey was responded by 482 Omani university students. The survey included socio-demographic data, a Social Media Activity Questionnaire, and a Body Dissatisfaction Scale. The participants were approached through promotion of the study on locally famous social media accounts. Results The prevalence of body image dissatisfaction was higher in females compared to males (37.7% and 24%, respectively). Additionally, 53.6% of participants with a high body mass index reported high levels of body image dissatisfaction, while underweight participants reported the lowest body image dissatisfaction (21.3%). High social media use showed a significant correlation with body image dissatisfaction ( p