Social Networking Site Use And Restricted Eating Among College Students

Restrictive eating is a long-term strict restriction on eating behavior by individua ls in order to control their weight.A large number of previous studies have found that restrictive eating has many negative effects on individuals’ physiology and psychology.Restrictive eating is not a successful strategy to lose weight.Individuals are prone to anxiety and depression in the process of restrictive diet,which greatly increases the possibility of individuals suffering from neurotic eating disorder.Many domestic and foreign studies have confirmed that young women are the high risk group of restrictive eating.Therefore,researchers should pay more attention to the restrictive diet of college students.With the rapid development of Internet technology,social networking sites have become an indispensable part of young people’s life,and the use of social networking sites has a subtle impact on the physical and mental health of college students.According to socio-cultural theory and social comparison theory,the use of social networking sites will cause the emergence and increase of restrictive eating behaviors.However,the mechanism of the influence of social networking site use on restrictive eating needs further research.Under the influence of social networking site use on restrictive eating,the study showed that appearance perfectionism and self-focus also influenced individuals’ restrictive eating.In this study,1126 college students were surveyed using multidimensional Social Networking site Use Scale,Restricted eating Scale,appearance perfectionism scale and self-focused scale,and the relationships among social networking site use,restricted eating scale,appearance perfectionism and self-focused scale were explored.The research conclusions are as follows:There were significant gender differences in social networking site use,restricted eating and self-focused;Social networking site use and restrictive eating showed significant differences among grades;Restrictive eating were associated with significant differences in body mass index.Social networking sites use,restricted eating,appearance perfectionism self-focus were positively correlated.Social networking sites use can directly affect restrictive eating and indirectly affect restrictive eating through appearance perfectionism.Physical perfectionism partially mediated the association between social networking site use and restrictive eating.Self-focused moderated the mediating effect of appearance perfectionism,and self-focused moderated the latter half of the mediating process.Specifically,the higher the level of self-focused,the less the effect of appearance perfectionism on restrictive eating.Social networking sites use,restricted eating,appearance perfectionism and self-concern constituted a moderated mediation model.According to the results of this study,the use of social networking sites will increase the risk and level of restrictive eating among college students,and will also increase the level of physical perfectionism to improve the level of restrictive eating,while the self-concerned level of college students will alleviate the promotion effect of physical perfectionism on restrictive eating behavior.Therefore,it is suggested that social networking sites,universities and college students should take responsibility and take active actions to reduce the negative effects brought by social networking sites,establish a healthy aesthetic sense,cultivate reasonable eating habits,and promote more positive self-concern among college students.