(PS6-B45) Associations Between Social Media Addiction and Disordered Eating Behaviors in a Latinx College Student Sample

Social media is an important tool for young adults and plays an active role in shaping their mental and physical health. Studies have demonstrated the addictive use of social media as a new form of behavioral addiction (Azizi et al., 2019; Yilmazel, 2021). Niu et al (2019) suggested a relationship between social media use, body image concerns, and disordered eating behaviors. Young adults often use social media platforms as a way of sourcing health information, which may aid in combating these adverse effects. However, excessive and addictive use of social media remains prevalent and may inhibit the effects of the messaging. Thus, the aim of the study was to assess the relationship between social media use and addiction and disordered eating behaviors.

Latinx college students (n = 374; M_age= 20.63, SD = 4.10, 78.1% Female) from a university on the border of the U.S. and Mexico were recruited through a web-based recruitment site. After providing online consent, participants completed a demographic survey, a social media use frequency questionnaire, the Bergen Social Media Addiction scale, and the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire subscales (i.e., cognitive restraint, uncontrolled, and emotional eating). A linear regression model assessed the association between the independent variables (TFEQ subscales) and weekly social media use, controlling for age and sex. A second linear regression model assessed the association between the independent variables and social media addiction, controlling for age and sex. 

The average weekly time spent on social media was 24.89 (SD = 16.75) hours. Uncontrolled eating scores (M = 21.70, SD = 4.15) were low, and social media addiction (M = 16.85, SD = 5.10), cognitive restraint (M = 14.68, SD = 2.46), and emotional eating (M = 6.93, SD = 2.56) scores were moderate. Increased time spent on social media was statistically associated with age (β = -.423, p = .047), cognitive restraint (β = .948, p = .019), and emotional eating (β = 1.209, p = .014). Social media addiction was associated with emotional eating (β = .347, p = .020).

That social media use was associated with cognitive restraint is consistent with past studies suggesting appearance comparison through social media is associated with lower body satisfaction (So & Kwon, 2022), which may prompt users to want to lose weight, often unhealthily and ineffectively such as restricting certain foods. Similarly, social media use was associated with emotional eating suggesting social media users may not feel socially desirable online and turn to food for comfort. Alternatively, those who restrain from food or are more prone to emotionally eat may turn to social media for social support and seek information, such as low-calorie meals, foods to avoid, and suggested comfort foods. Interestingly, social media addiction was only associated with emotional eating. This relationship is consistent with research that suggests emotional eating and addiction-like behaviors often overlap (Levallius et al., 2022). Though prospective studies of social media and disordered eating behaviors are warranted to extend these findings, intervention development efforts may wish to limit social media use to optimize impact.