Body Image Avoidance, Rejection Sensitivity and Social Anxiety among Social Media Influencers

By : Sandra Joshy, Aaliya Ameen, Saniya Davis, Aiswarya K D, Milu Maria Anto

Page No: 11-20

Abstract
Research suggests that social anxiety and body dysmorphic concerns are highly overlapping constructs. Also, it has been suggested that rejection sensitivity may be associated with both social anxiety and body dysmorphic concerns. Uncertainty exists regarding whether these findings apply to persistent media exposure in daily life for both influencers and non-influencers on social media. Additionally, it is unknown whether body dissatisfaction, rejection sensitivity, and social anxiety differ among male and female influencers when examining the role of appearance in relation to the media. The aim of the study is to find rejection sensitivity, Social Anxiety and Body Image Avoidance. The participants include 24 male and 36 female Instagram users including influencers and non-influencers with an age limit of 18-30 years from Kerala. The measures used are the Rejection sensitivity questionnaire, adult version (ARSQ), Body image avoidance questionnaire (BIAQ) and Social Interaction Anxiety scale (SIAS). In this study, we found that social anxiety and body image avoidance are positively correlated but rejection sensitivity is not. Also, there is a considerable increase in social anxiety and Body image avoidance with respect to increase in followers. There is no gender and locality related difference in Social Anxiety, Rejection sensitivity and Body Image Avoidance. Influencers create space by upholding a particular persona. Sometimes, they may feel constrained by self-imposed restrictions, which might impede their ability to grow personally by developing a social anxiety and body dissatisfaction. Hence, this study can provide a very significant contribution in that.
 

Authors:
Sandra Joshy, M.Sc. Clinical Psychology, St, Agnes college, Rajiv Gandhi of Health Sciences.
Aaliya Ameen, M.Sc. Applied Psychology, University of Calicut, Thenhippalam, Malappuram, Kerala.
Saniya Davis, M.Sc. Psychology, St. Joseph College Irinjalakuda, Kerala.
Aiswarya K D, M.Sc. Clinical Psychology, St. Mary’s College Puthanagadi, Malappuram, Kerala.
Milu Maria Anto Associate Professor & Clinical Psychologist, Prajyoti Nikethan College Pudukkad, Thrissur, Kerala.
 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/JPR.2025.20.01.2