Selfie-Evaluation: A Meta-Analysis of the Relationship Between Selfie Behaviors and Self-Evaluations

The "selfie" phenomenon shaped the past two decades, yet there is inconsistent evidence concerning the relationship between selfie behaviors and self-evaluations. This meta-analysis investigates the relationship between selfie taking, editing, and posting behavior and general and appearance-specific self-evaluations. The results reveal that selfie taking and posting are related to positive appearance-specific self-evaluations. In contrast, selfie editing is related to negative self-evaluations both generally and specific to appearance. Gender and age did not moderate these relationships, but methodological factors did, suggesting these relationships depend on factors, such as how selfie behaviors are measured and study design. We interpret these findings through the lens of prominent social psychological theories and conclude with suggestions to guide future research.

[1]  Sarah Mustafa,et al.  Self-Consciousness, Self-Objectification, and Social Anxiety as Predictors of Photo Editing Behavior among Emerging Adults , 2022, Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies.

[2]  D. Caso,et al.  Supplemental Material for “To Be Yourself or Your Selfies, That Is the Question”: The Moderation Role of Gender, Nationality, and Privacy Settings in the Relationship Between Selfie-Engagement and Body Shame , 2022, Psychology of Popular Media.

[3]  S. Polar,et al.  Utilisation problématique d’Instagram, orientation à la comparaison sociale, estime de soi physique et sociale : étude exploratoire , 2022, Psychologie Française.

[4]  Yiqi Yu,et al.  Beautify the Blurry Self: Low Self‐Concept Clarity Increases Appearance Management , 2022, Journal of Consumer Psychology.

[5]  Lijuan Xiao,et al.  Editing the self in pictures: Selfie editing promotes self-objectification among Chinese , 2021, Current Psychology.

[6]  Juan Zhang,et al.  The Relationship Between SNS Usage and Disordered Eating Behaviors: A Meta-Analysis , 2021, Frontiers in Psychology.

[7]  J. Mills,et al.  The effects of self-disclaimer Instagram captions on young women's mood and body image: The moderating effect of participants' own photo manipulation practices. , 2021, Body image.

[8]  M. Prinstein,et al.  Selfie Appearance Investment and Peer Feedback Concern: Multi-Method Investigation of Adolescent Selfie Practices and Adjustment. , 2021, Psychology of popular media culture.

[9]  E. Mayo-Wilson,et al.  The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews , 2021, BMJ.

[10]  Megan A. Vendemia,et al.  The effects of engaging in digital photo modifications and receiving favorable comments on women's selfies shared on social media. , 2021, Body image.

[11]  Li Lei,et al.  The longitudinal and reciprocal relationships between selfie-related behaviors and self-objectification and appearance concerns among adolescents , 2019, New Media Soc..

[12]  Minsun Lee,et al.  Social media photo activity, internalization, appearance comparison, and body satisfaction: The moderating role of photo-editing behavior , 2021, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[13]  Roselyn J. Lee-Won,et al.  “Obsessed with retouching your selfies? Check your mindset!”: Female Instagram users with a fixed mindset are at greater risk of disordered eating , 2020 .

[14]  Misra Richa,et al.  Selfies, Individual Traits, and Gender: Decoding the Relationship , 2020, Trends in Psychology.

[15]  Qingqing Sun.  Selfie Editing and Consideration of Cosmetic Surgery Among Young Chinese Women: The Role of Self-Objectification and Facial Dissatisfaction , 2020, Sex Roles.

[16]  C. Brown,et al.  That selfie becomes you: examining taking and posting selfies as forms of self-objectification , 2020, Media Psychology.

[17]  A. Mihăilescu,et al.  Selfie Behaviors and Personality Traits: More than Meets the Eye , 2020 .

[18]  Xiaochun Xie,et al.  Narcissism and selfie-posting behavior: the mediating role of body satisfaction and the moderating role of attitude toward selfie-posting behavior , 2020 .

[19]  Zoe Ann Brown,et al.  Uploading your best self: Selfie editing and body dissatisfaction. , 2020, Body image.

[20]  Christopher A Modica,et al.  The Associations Between Instagram Use, Selfie Activities, Appearance Comparison, and Body Dissatisfaction in Adult Men , 2020, Cyberpsychology Behav. Soc. Netw..

[21]  E. Konijn,et al.  Me, my selfie, and I: The relations between selfie behaviors, body image, self-objectification, and self-esteem in young women. , 2020, Psychology of Popular Media.

[22]  J. Aubrey,et al.  “But first let me take a selfie”: U.S. adolescent girls’ selfie activities, self-objectification, imaginary audience beliefs, and appearance concerns , 2020 .

[23]  M. Liss,et al.  Picture Perfect: The Relationship between Selfie Behaviors, Self-Objectification, and Depressive Symptoms , 2019, Sex Roles.

[24]  Gengfeng Niu,et al.  Body image flexibility moderates the association between photo-related activities on WeChat moments and the body dissatisfaction of female adolescents in China , 2019, Current Psychology.

[25]  M. Tiggemann,et al.  The effect of #enhancement-free Instagram images and hashtags on women's body image. , 2019, Body image.

[26]  Hyun-Hwa Lee,et al.  Can virtual makeovers using photo editing applications moderate negative media influences on SNS users’ body satisfaction? , 2019, Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science / Revue canadienne des sciences du comportement.

[27]  Dong Liu,et al.  Digital Communication Media Use and Psychological Well-Being: A Meta-Analysis , 2019, J. Comput. Mediat. Commun..

[28]  Di Wang.  A study of the relationship between narcissism, extraversion, body-esteem, social comparison orientation and selfie-editing behavior on social networking sites , 2019, Personality and Individual Differences.

[29]  C. Brown,et al.  The Selfie Generation: Examining the Relationship Between Social Media Use and Early Adolescent Body Image , 2019 .

[30]  K. Bussey,et al.  Me, my selfie, and I: The relationship between editing and posting selfies and body dissatisfaction in men and women. , 2019, Body image.

[31]  Jennifer S. Mills,et al.  "Selfie" harm: Effects on mood and body image in young women. , 2018, Body image.

[32]  K. Cortina,et al.  Mediating effects of self-concept clarity on the relationship between passive social network sites use and subjective well-being , 2018, Current Psychology.

[33]  Lifeng Lin,et al.  Quantifying publication bias in meta‐analysis , 2018, Biometrics.

[34]  Evita March,et al.  New evidence shows self-esteem moderates the relationship between narcissism and selfies , 2018, Personality and Individual Differences.

[35]  Xiaochun Xie,et al.  Selfie posting and self-esteem among young adult women: A mediation model of positive feedback and body satisfaction , 2018, Journal of health psychology.

[36]  Rachel M. Calogero,et al.  Self-objectification, body shame, and disordered eating: Testing a core mediational model of objectification theory among White, Black, and Hispanic women. , 2018, Body image.

[37]  S. Mazič,et al.  Association between physiological oscillations in self-esteem, narcissism and internet addiction: A cross-sectional study , 2017, Psychiatry Research.

[38]  Fan Yang,et al.  Let me take a selfie: Exploring the psychological effects of posting and viewing selfies and groupies on social media , 2017, Telematics Informatics.

[39]  S. C. Chong,et al.  Selfie and self: The effect of selfies on self-esteem and social sensitivity , 2017 .

[40]  Paul Weiler,et al.  Personality and selfies: Narcissism and the Dark Triad , 2016, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[41]  R. Baumeister,et al.  Social networking online and personality of self-worth: A meta-analysis , 2016 .

[42]  K. Pisanski,et al.  Selfies and personality: Who posts self-portrait photographs? , 2016 .

[43]  Russell B. Clayton,et al.  Unfiltered : Exploring Associations of Body Image Satisfaction , Instagram # Selfie Posting , and Negative Romantic Relationship Outcomes , 2016 .

[44]  S. Paxton,et al.  Photoshopping the selfie: Self photo editing and photo investment are associated with body dissatisfaction in adolescent girls. , 2015, The International journal of eating disorders.

[45]  Stefan J Cano,et al.  Development and psychometric evaluation of the FACE-Q satisfaction with appearance scale: a new patient-reported outcome instrument for facial aesthetics patients. , 2013, Clinics in plastic surgery.

[46]  Jin-Liang Wang,et al.  The relationships among the Big Five Personality factors, self-esteem, narcissism, and sensation-seeking to Chinese University students' uses of social networking sites (SNSs) , 2012, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[47]  P. Valkenburg,et al.  Online communication among adolescents: an integrated model of its attraction, opportunities, and risks. , 2011, The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine.

[48]  E. Nixon,et al.  Body Dissatisfaction Among Adolescent Boys and Girls: The Effects of Body Mass, Peer Appearance Culture and Internalization of Appearance Ideals , 2011, Journal of youth and adolescence.

[49]  B. Roberts,et al.  Getting to know me: social role experiences and age differences in self-concept clarity during adulthood. , 2010, Journal of personality.

[50]  T. Tylka,et al.  Development and psychometric evaluation of the Male Body Attitudes Scale (MBAS). , 2005, Body image.

[51]  T. Petrie,et al.  Factorial and Construct Validity of the Body Parts Satisfaction Scale-Revised: An Examination of Minority and Nonminority Women , 2002 .

[52]  B. Fredrickson,et al.  A Mediational Model Linking Self-Objectification, Body Shame, and Disordered Eating , 1998 .

[53]  M. Mikulincer,et al.  The Body Investment Scale: Construction and validation of a body experience scale. , 1998 .

[54]  B. Spring,et al.  Gender differences in body satisfaction. , 1997, Obesity research.

[55]  J. Hyde,et al.  The Objectified Body Consciousness Scale , 1996 .

[56]  J. Mccroskey,et al.  The measurement of interpersonal attraction , 1974 .