The Influence Of Social Networking Sites Use On The Appearance Anxiety Of Middle School Students:the Mediating Effect Of Self-objectification

With the rapid development of the Internet,social networking sites affect everyone more and more deeply.According to the survey of Internet use in China in2020,middle school students aged 10-19 account for one fifth of the total number of users of social networking sites.Social networking sites play an increasingly important role in the physical and mental development of middle school students.As one of the most effective media to spread social value,media also has a profound impact on individual self objectification.Self objectification refers to the individual standing on the observer’s point of view,regarding his body as an object that can please others.At present,many studies have shown that self objectification can bring a series of negative effects on individual’s body and psychology,such as appearance anxiety,depression,diet and so on.Based on this,a total of 741 questionnaires were collected from two middle schools in Urumqi and Changji,Xinjiang.After screening the questionnaires,614 valid questionnaires were obtained,and then the data were statistically analyzed(1)There are significant gender differences in the use of social networking sites,self objectification and appearance anxiety of middle school students;there are significant grade differences in the use of social networking sites,self objectification and appearance anxiety of middle school students;(2)There is a significant positive correlation between the use of social networking sites and self objectification and appearance anxiety,and there is a significant positive correlation between self objectification and appearance anxiety;(3)Middle school students’ use of social networking sites and self objectification can significantly predict middle school students’ appearance anxiety,and self objectification can partially mediate the relationship between use of social networking sites and appearance anxiety.Conclusion(1)Female middle school students’ appearance anxiety was significantly higher than that of male students,and high school students’ appearance anxiety was significantly higher than that of junior middle school students;(2)The stronger the intensity of using social networking sites,the higher the self objectification tendency and appearance anxiety level of middle school students;(3)After the addition of self objectification,the relationship between the use of social networking sites and middle school students’ appearance anxiety is still significant,and self objectification plays a partial mediating role.The mediating mechanism of self objectification reveals how the use of social networking sites transmits self objectified information and internalizes it,which leads to higher appearance anxiety.Therefore,this study emphasizes the importance of using social networking sites as the source of self objectification.Finally,it discusses the causes of self objectification of middle school students in China and its negative effects and preventive measures.