The Relationship between Editing Pictures of Oneself, Body Image and Self-Discrepancy

By : Rhea Mankotia, Mareena Susan Wesley

Page No: 25-33

Abstract
Research has demonstrated that social media negatively impacts various aspects of self, but how editing pictures of oneself (EPO) can affect the same is yet to be understood. The aim of the current study was to examine whether there is a relationship between EPO, body image and self-discrepancy, that is, the discrepancy between actual, ought and ideal self. For this purpose, 106 women aged between 17 to 25 years were recruited into the study, who answered a survey about how much they edited their pictures before posting them online. They also completed the Body Image States Scale and the Selves Questionnaire. Results revealed that there was a significant relationship between actual-ought and actualideal self. A weak correlation was found between EPO and body image, and body image and actual-ought self. The study indicates that excessively EPO is negatively associated with body image. Implications of the findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Authors :
Rhea Mankotia : Post-graduate in Clinical Psychology – Department of Psychology at CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru.
Mareena Susan Wesley : Assistant Professor – Department of Psychology at CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru.
 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/JPR.2020.15.01.2