The influence of Instagram use on body image among Gen Z: The mediating role of social comparison

Chua , Xiao Qing and Ng, Elaze Yong Xuan and Wong, Yong Sing (2026) The influence of Instagram use on body image among Gen Z: The mediating role of social comparison. Final Year Project, UTAR.

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Abstract

This study aims to examine the relationship between Instagram usage and body image among Generation Z (Gen Z) and how social comparison plays a role in mediating this relationship. Instagram use was hypothesized that it would have a negative association with body image, positive association with social comparison, and that social comparison would mediate the association between Instagram use and body image. This study employed a quantitative cross-sectional correlational design and convenience sampling was used to recruit 164 Malaysian participants aged 18 to 24. Data was collected through an online survey which was distributed via social media platforms. Instagram use, social comparison, and body image were measured using the adapted Multidimensional Facebook Intensity Scale (MFIS), Physical Appearance Comparison Scale-Revised (PACS-R), and Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults (BESAA), respectively. Participants were predominantly female (64%) and Chinese (72%), with an average of 21.47 years of age. The findings revealed that Instagram use was positively associated with social comparison. Contrary to the hypotheses, both Instagram use and social comparison were positively associated to body image. Mediation analysis indicated that social comparison partially mediates this relationship. These findings show that social comparison's impact on body image is complex, and Instagram use doesn't always result in a negative self-perception. The study provides important implications for promoting healthier social media engagement and developing interventions targeting body image among Gen Z.

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