1,721,011 research outputs found
Women’s pathological narcissism and its relationship with social appearance anxiety: the mediating role of body shame
No full textObjective: attention to personal appearance and observers’ judgments are integral components of narcissism. however, empirical evidence focused on the association between grandiose/vulnerable traits of narcissism and social appearance anxieties is limited. Moreover, body shame represents a topic of debated interest in the field of narcissism and women’s experience of self-consciousness. the aim of the present study is to evaluate the unexplored relationship between covert and overt facets of pathological narcissism and social appearance anxiety, analyzing the mediating role of objectified body shame.
Method: pathological vulnerable and grandiose narcissism, social appearance anxiety and body shame were assessed in a convenience sample of 775 young women (m=24.1, sd=4.52).
Results: body shame fully mediated the association between pathological narcissism and social appearance anxiety, especially for vulnerable narcissists’ women.
Conclusions: as expected, vulnerable narcissism had a positive association with social appearance anxieties, and body shame acted as a mediating risky factor. Moreover, as hypothesized and differently from recent findings, also overt narcissism was related to body shame and appearance anxieties. These findings suggest that feelings of shame are essential to deeper understand the narcissistic core features and outcomes. research and clinical implications are discussed
WHICH ARE THE EFFECTS OF BODY-OBJECTIFICATION AND INSTAGRAM-RELATED PRACTICES ON MALE BODY ESTEEM? A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
Full text linkObjective: According to the objectification framework, media pressure toward
body models promotes the internalization of beauty ideals that negatively influence
individuals’ body image and self-esteem. Historically, women have been the main
target of sociocultural pressures. However, research has recently suggested that
self-objectification is a male phenomenon as well, which can be inscribed in men’s
body experiences. Nevertheless, fewer studies have specifically focused on the male
experience and general consequences of body-objectification are yet to be extensively
analyzed regarding males’ body image features. The current cross-sectional study
explores the consequences of body-objectification on male body esteem, specifically
testing the predictive role of exercising/dietary habits, body-objectification features,
and SNS-related practices on male body esteem.
Method: A total of 238 male participants (mean age = 24.28 years, SD = 4.32)
have been involved in an online survey. Three hierarchical analyses were performed
to test the influence of objectified body consciousness and social networking-related
experiences (i.e. Instagram intensity use, photo manipulation, selfie feedback
investment) on young men’s body esteem with specific reference to the weight,
appearance, and attribution features of the Body Esteem Scale.
Results: Findings highlighted that body shame played an interesting key role,
influencing negatively all the body esteem dimensions, thus highlighting that
attention needs to be deserved on this feature of OBC regarding males’ experience.
On the contrary, appearance control-related dimensions positively influenced body
esteem. Overall, findings confirmed that objectification theory can adequately mark
a pathway by which media imagery is internalized also by men and may negatively
affect their body esteem.
Conclusions: Despite some limitations, this study may contribute to enlarging
our knowledge on male body image and self-objectification experience and support
literature shattering the stereotype that body dissatisfaction is a “female-exclusive”
issue. Likewise, beyond some questioning positions, these findings also encourage
further exploration of a healthier “control dimension”, including body appearance related activities and beliefs
Young adults’ attitudes toward online self-disclosure and social connection as predictors of a preference for online social interactions: the mediating effect of relational closeness
No full textNowadays, computer-mediated-communication (CMC) has become integral to the interpersonal relationships, but the preference for CMC might produce negative outcomes. Specifically, attitudes toward online communication have been found concurrently associated with online relational closeness (RC) and problematic preference for online social interactions (POSI). Thus, mixed evidence regarding the effect of online communication attitudes has been found. The present paper aimed at validating online communication attitudes measures and exploring their direct and indirect effect on POSI, via RC. Two studies have been conducted. Study 1 evaluated the psychometric properties of online self-disclosure (OSD) and online social connection (OSC) subscales on a young adult sample (N = 820). Study 2 (N = 588) explored the direct and indirect predictive role of OSD and OSC on POSI via RC. The OSD and OSC subscales showed good internal consistency and reliability providing reliable instruments. Concerning the mediation analyses, the findings showed that both OSD and OSC predicted POSI. RC only partially mediated the relationship between online communication attitudes and POSI. Therefore, the online communication promotes online intimacy but, concurrently, it might represent a risk factor for psychological outcomes, such as POSI. The study provided novel findings concerning CMC and contributes toward the ongoing debate on possible predictors of POSI
Problematic linkages in adolescents. Italian adaptation of a measure for Internet-related problems
No full textEmotion dysregulation and adolescents’ preference for online social interactions: The moderating role of gender
No full textThe number of young social media users is increasing year after year, animating the scholar debate about excessive Internet use and its effects. Boys and girls’ different social media use motives and purposes might reflect the way in which they display their emotions, indeed increasing attention has been paid to emotion dysregulation role in addictive behaviors. This study aimed at exploring the moderating role of gender on the relation between difficulties in emotion regulation and problematic preference for online social interactions. 693 Italian adolescents (55% female and 45% male; mean age = 16+1.597) were involved in the study. Results showed that gender differently moderated the relationship between emotion dysregulation and preference for web-mediated interactions in males and females: girls with higher difficulties in regulation of emotional states did not prefer online social interactions. On the contrary, boys’ problematic preference for web-mediated interactions always increased for difficulties in acceptance, understanding, control, and modulating negative emotions
Adolescents' body shame and social networking sites: the mediating effect of body image control in photos
Full text linkAdolescents' social networking site (SNS) use has dramatically grown in the past few years and has increasingly become focused on pictures and visual self-presentation. Attention directed toward online physical appearance appears to trigger some body-related behaviors (e.g., body image monitoring) which potentially are related to self-objectification and problematic SNS use. Indeed, the use of social media platforms (including the active creation of content and peer interactions) provides a highly accessible medium for socializing with self-objectification. The present study evaluated the previously unexplored predictive role of body shame on SNS use, testing the mediating effect of body image control in photos on SNS. A total of 693 Italian adolescents (45% male; Mage = 16 years, range = 13–19 years) participated in the study. Results only partially confirmed the direct effect of body shame on problematic SNS use. However, body shame strongly predicted body image control in SNS photos, leading indirectly to both male and female adolescents' problematic social media use. The study demonstrated novel findings in the field of self-objectification research and contributes toward the ongoing debate on possible predictors of problematic SNS use
Evidence on Problematic Online Gaming and Social Anxiety over the Past Ten Years: a Systematic Literature Review
Full text linkPurpose of Review: The present study aimed to review the literature concerning the relationship between problematic online gaming (POG) and social anxiety, taking into account the variables implicated in this relationship. This review included studies published between 2010 and 2020 that were indexed in major databases with the following keywords: Internet gaming, disorder, addiction, problematic, social phobia, and social anxiety. Recent Findings: In recent years, scientific interest in POG has grown dramatically. Within this prolific research field, difficulties associated with social anxiety have been increasingly explored in relation to POG. Indeed, evidence showed that individuals who experience social anxiety are more exposed to the risk of developing an excessive or addictive gaming behavior. Summary: A total of 30 studies satisfied the initial inclusion criteria and were included in the present literature review. Several reviewed studies found a strong association between social anxiety and online gaming disorder. Furthermore, the relationships among social anxiety, POG, age, and psychosocial and comorbid factors were largely explored. Overall, the present review showed that socially anxious individuals might perceive online video games as safer social environments than face-to-face interactions, predisposing individuals to the POG. However, in a mutually reinforcing relationship, individuals with higher POG seem to show higher social anxiety. Therefore, despite online gaming might represent an activity able to alleviate psychopathological symptoms and/or negative emotional states, people might use online gaming to counterbalance distress or negative situations in everyday life, carrying out a maladaptive coping strategy
Problematic internet use and emotional dysregulation among young people: A literature review
Full text linkObjective: In recent years scientific interest in Internet use disorders, especially among young people, has grown dramatically. Within this contemporary research field, difficulties in regulating emotions have been increasingly explored in association with problematic Internet use (PIU). Indeed, individuals who experience difficulties in emotion regulation might be more exposed to the risk of developing PIU. Therefore, the present study aimed to review the literature from the last ten years focused on the relationship between young people’s emotional dysregulation and PIU, taking into account the main variables involved in this relationship and possible gender-related differences. Method: This review included studies published between 2010 and 2020 that were indexed in major databases with the following keywords: emotion regulation, problematic Internet use, Internet addiction, social network addiction, and social media addiction. In the selection process of the studies, close attention was paid for the mean age of the involved samples that had to range between 13 and 25 years. Results: A total of 23 studies satisfied the initial inclusion criteria and were included in the present literature review. Several reviewed studies found a strong association between emotion dysregulation and both PIU and problematic social networking with controversial gender-based findings. Furthermore, the relationships among emotional dysregulation, PIU, attachment styles, and metacognitions were largely explored. Conclusions: Overall, the present review showed that problematic Internet use might represent a coping strategy to compensate for emotional regulation deficits. The lack of social support and the lack of a good parent-adolescent relationship seem to negatively affect emotional regulation abilities, which in turn increase the risk of developing PIU. Moreover, good metacognitive abilities might represent a protective factor towards emotional dysregulation and PIU. Finally, males with emotional dysregulation are likely to be more problematically engaged in Internet use than females. These results might have important practical implications to implement health prevention/promotion programs, emotion regulation-based training programmes and therapies
Problematic Media Use among Children up to the Age of 10: A Systematic Literature Review
Full text linkIntroduction: Digital screen media use has significantly grown in all age groups and at an increasingly young age, including toddlers, schoolers, and primary school children. Although there is evidence that excessive early childhood media exposure can lead to several negative developmental outcomes, no systematic review on Problematic Media Use (PMU) of children under 10 years old have been provided. The aim of the present systematic review was to identify (i) the main instruments used to measure children’s PMU across different studies; (ii) the risk and protective factors which might increase or reduce children’s PMU; and (iii) the negative outcomes associated with children’s PMU. Methods: This study was conducted following the systematic review guidelines proposed in the PRISMA statement. A total of 35 studies published between 2012–2022 and with a mean sample age between 0 and 10 years old were ultimately included in this literature review. Results: Use of media for more than 2 h a day, male gender, and higher age increased the risk of developing PMU among children. PMU led to several negative consequences for children’s development and well-being (e.g., more problematic behaviors, sleep problems, higher depressive symptoms, lower emotional intelligence, and lower academic achievements). Children who experienced negative psychological symptoms, a dysfunctional parent–child relationship, and difficulties in school context were more prone to develop PMU. However, an authoritative parenting style and restrictive parental mediation reduced the risk of developing PMU among children. Finally, self-report measures specifically designed to get the younger children’s perspective are still few and not so widely used. Conclusions: Overall, this research field is still in its infancy and needs further investigation. Likely, a dysfunctional family system can lead children to experience emotional distress and negative psychological symptoms, which they try to manage by escaping into the virtual world, thus increasing the risk of developing PMU. As the children’s PMU is closely affected by the family environment, future prevention interventions should target both children and their parents to improve their self-regulatory and mentalizing capabilities, as well as parental mediation strategies and general parenting practices
Parental Mediation and Cyberbullying: A Narrative Literature Review
Full text linkCyberbullying represents a widespread Internet-based risk among children and adolescents. Therefore, scientific research largely focused on protective factors, such as the increasingly explored parental mediation (PM) of technology use. This study reviewed the last decade's literature about the relationship between cyberbullying and PM, considering the main variables involved in this relationship. A total of 18 papers were selected, including samples aged between 8 and 18 years and showing mixed findings on the preventive role of restrictive PM strategies on cyberbullying. However, active and co-viewing PM decreased the risk of children and adolescents’ involvement in cyberbullying. Moreover, PM was found to be effective in preventing cyberbullying, especially among children rather than adolescents. Furthermore, PM seemed to protect against cyberbullying and related psychopathological symptoms, such as depression and anxiety. Consistency between general parenting style and cyber-specific PM styles decreased the risk of cyberbullying, while an inconsistent PM style exacerbated this risk. Finally, important implications for future research directions were extensively explored in the discussion section
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