The Relation Between Body Appreciation and Appearance-Comparative Behaviors Online - Is It Moderated by Age?

Abstract: Is people’s appreciation for their bodies lower when they engage in more appearance comparison online and is this relation differs as a function of age? Previous research shows that body appreciation is important for people’s well-being and frequent appearance comparison is seen to be related to lower well-being. Research also shows age differences in body appreciation and the tendency to engage in comparison with others. There is a lack of studies looking at body appreciation that includes older people and men. Online social comparison has only been measured using narrow definitions of comparative behaviors. The current study aims to assess if lower body appreciation is seen for people who compare themselves more online and if this is moderated by age. An online survey was distributed to Swedish citizens over the age of 16. The survey asked about people’s body appreciation and the different online appearance-comparison behaviors they perform. A moderation analysis was conducted and showed that lower body appreciation is related to higher engagement in appearance comparison online and this relation was stronger for older people. This study expands the knowledge about body appreciation with a sample that is more representative of the Swedish population. It also expands the knowledge of how body appreciation is related to online social comparison. People generally seem to experience lower appreciation for their bodies when they engage in more online appearance comparison and the relationship is stronger for older people.