The Effects of Body Image and SNS Body Image on SNS Photo-Editing Tendency

This study examined the effects of perceived body image and social networking site (SNS) body image of college students on their photo-editing tendency on social media and whether this effect is mediated by interpersonal relations orientation and a preference for online social interactions. A total of 358 college students (M_age = 21.9, SD = 2.19) were recruited in South Korea to do the online survey on demographic characteristics, social media usage with respect to photo-editing behavior, perceived body image in real life and on social media, interpersonal relations orientation, and a preference for online social interactions. Of the participants, 22.3% identified as males and 77.7% as female. The results from structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis indicated that perceived body image of college students and SNS body image predicted photo-editing tendency. It was also found that interpersonal orientation mediated how body image of college students affects their photo-editing tendency. College students with a higher level of consciousness of SNS body image are inclined to present a higher level of a preference for online social interactions, resulting in increased photo-editing tendency and more frequent posting on social media. Implications and directions for future study are discussed.