Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science /

Revue canadienne des sciences du comportement

0008-400X/19/$12.00 2019, Vol. 51, No. 4, 231–238
© 2019 Canadian Psychological Association http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/cbs0000133

Can Virtual Makeovers Using Photo Editing Applications Moderate

Negative Media Influences on SNS Users’ Body Satisfaction?

Minsun Lee Hyun-Hwa Lee

Incheon National University Inha University

The use of photo editing applications to enhance one’s appearance in photos before uploading is
prevalent among young female social network site (SNS) users. The purpose of this study was to identify
the moderating effects of photo editing behavior in the relationships between internalization, media
pressure, and body satisfaction among female SNS users. Data were collected from 133 Korean female
SNS users aged in their 20s who reported using Facebook and/or Instagram for more than 1 hr per day.
The majority of participants (84%) reported currently using a photo editing application when posting
photos of themselves. Results indicated that photo editing behavior (the frequency of photo editing
application use) moderated the inverse relationships between the internalization of ideals of thinness,
media pressure, and body satisfaction. Significant negative relationships between internalization and
media pressure toward a thin ideal and body satisfaction were only found among women low (not high)
in the use of photo editing applications. The results of this study highlight the potential positive functions
of photo editing behavior, alleviating the negative impacts of SNS use on the body images held by young
female SNS users.

Public Significance Statement

The use of photo editing applications before uploading the appearance-related photos on SNSs is very
common among young Korean women. The findings of this study indicated the possibility that young
SNS users may alleviate the various negative impacts of SNS use on body image through photo
editing behavior.

Keywords: photo editing behavior, internalization, media pressure, body satisfaction

Social networking sites (SNSs) have become the most powerful
media channels for interpersonal relationships and communication
with others (Zhang & Leung, 2015). As SNSs also play a crucial
role in the communication of culturally idealized body images in
many societies, the attention of researchers has shifted from tra-
ditional media to social media within the past decade to study this
topic (de Vries, Peter, Nikken, & Graaf, 2014; Meier & Gray,
2014). SNS exposure can significantly influence a user’s body
image, such as increasing levels of appearance comparison, and
the internalization of and media pressure to have an ideal body (de
Vries et al., 2014; Fardouly, Diedrichs, Vartanian, & Halliwell,
2015). According to sociocultural theories such as the tripartite
This article was published Online First July 25, 2019.
Minsun Lee, Center for Perception and Behavioral Research, Incheon
National University; Hyun-Hwa Lee, Department of Fashion Design and
Textiles, Inha University.
This research did not receive any specific grants from funding agencies
in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Hyun-Hwa
Lee, Department of Fashion Design and Textiles, Inha University, 100 Inharo,
Nam-Gu, Incheon, South Korea 22212. E-mail: hyunhwa@inha.ac.kr
influence model of body image, the psychological processes of
women relating to media pressure, appearance comparison, and
internalization can ultimately result in negative consequences,
including risky appearance management behavior and body
dissatisfaction (Keery, van den Berg, & Thompson, 2004;
Thompson, Heinberg, Altabe, & Tantleff-Dunn, 1999). Previ-
ous studies have confirmed the significant relationships be-
tween SNS pressures, internalization, and body dissatisfaction
(Lee & Lee, 2017; Tiggemann & Slater, 2013).
SNSs can be characterized by their visual, photo-oriented features,
and photos are used as a key tool for communication (Kapidzic,
2013). Because of this characteristic, users tend to upload the most
attractive and ideal images of themselves (Fardouly & Vartanian,
2016). People may either choose the best photos of themselves or
adjust/alter their appearance in photos (Dutta et al., 2016). Along with
the desire of SNS users to enhance their appearance in photos, the use
of photo editing applications (e.g., Camera360, Snow, BeautyPlus,
Cymera, MakeupPlus, and B612) represents an emerging trend (Chae,
2017). Beyond the use of filtering services provided within SNS
platforms, the use of photo editing applications to manipulate one’s
appearance is becoming increasingly more commonplace and accept-
able (Mascheroni, Vincent, & Jimenez, 2015). By using photo editing
applications, SNS users are provided an even greater variety of

231
232 LEE AND LEE
options to edit their photos, thus enhancing their appearance. For
example, while the filtering options within Instagram only offer
options to change the overall tones of photos, photo editing applica-
tions provide more specific options. These include changing skin
tones, lifting the chin, sliming the overall face, shortening the length
of the face, removing wrinkles, enlarging/spanning the eyes, changing
the shapes of noses and lips, and various makeup options. Some
recent studies have reported on the prevalence of photo editing be-
havior and popular, widespread use of photo editing applications. The
Renfrew Center Foundation (2014) reported that approximately 70%
of Generation Y women aged 18 to 34 years old in the United States
edit their photos before posting them to SNSs. Moreover, Lee and Lee
(2017) found that using photo editing applications to modify one’s
appearance is considered an essential procedure among young Korean
female SNS users before uploading photos of themselves.
The practice of manipulation and editing of photos of models
and celebrities for social media or advertising purposes has re-
ceived considerable criticism due to its negative effects on the
body images held by viewers (Grabe, Ward, & Hyde, 2008).
However, enhancing one’s appearance before uploading photos on
social media is no longer only for famous people. Photo editing
behavior is also prevalent among typical SNS users. Recently,
Kleemans, Daalmans, Carbaat, and Anschütz (2018) examined the
effect of manipulated Instagram images of an ordinary person on
adolescent viewers’ body image and found that manipulated pho-
tos contributed to lower body satisfaction especially for girls with
higher social comparison tendencies. However, we should note
that SNS users are not only exposed to the manipulated photos of
others but they are also uploading their own edited photos with an
enhanced appearance. Although the effects of manipulated SNS
photos of famous people and peers on female viewers’ body image
have been investigated (e.g., Harrison & Hefner, 2014; Kleemans
et al., 2018), the effects of the photo editing behavior itself on SNS
users’ body image are still largely unknown. A study by McLean,
Paxton, Wertheim, and Masters (2015) investigated the associa-
tions of selfie posting and manipulation behaviors with body
image and eating concerns among 7th-grade girls. They found
significant positive correlations between internalization, self-photo
manipulation, body dissatisfaction, and dietary restraint. More-
over, self-photo manipulation by girls significantly predicted di-
etary restraint but not body dissatisfaction among self-photo shar-
ers after controlling for internalization. Recent studies also
emphasized the need for further research to identify the role of
photo manipulation behavior in the SNS environment (Holland &
Tiggemann, 2016; Mills, Musto, Williams, & Tiggemann, 2018).
The number of SNS users is dramatically increasing and people
are spending more time on SNSs. With the increasing prevalence
of the use of photo editing applications combined with the findings
from previous research, we anticipated a moderation mechanism
for photo editing behavior on the negative effects of SNSs on the
body images of users. The present study explored the role of photo
editing behavior in the relationships between internalization, me-
dia pressure, and body satisfaction in the SNS environment. As
noted above, the use of SNSs is particularly popular among young
women (Kimbrough, Guadagno, Muscanell, & Dill, 2013) and
various body image-related issues are especially problematic for
this demographic segment (Bearman, Presnell, Martinez, & Stice,
2006; Neighbors & Sobal, 2007). Therefore, young females have
been the primary focus in body image and SNS research, as is the
case of the present study.
Photo Editing Behavior and Self-Presentation on SNSs
For SNS users, photo editing might not be an unusual activity as
they might already be familiar with altering photos to some extent
through retouching, photo manipulation, image editing, and so
forth (Harrison & Hefner, 2014). Before photo editing applications
became available, appearance management methods for photos
that most SNS users used were limited to cropping or framing,
selecting the best photos of themselves, or changing the overall
tone of the photos using the functions provided within the SNS
platform itself. Now, with the wide availability of photo editing
applications, SNS users can easily enhance or even change their
appearance in photos.
Photo editing behavior among SNS users can be explained as a
way of self-presentation in cyberspace (Chae, 2017). In many
societies and cultures, attractive appearance arouses positive emo-
tions in others (Hazlett & Hoehn-Saric, 2000; Mehrabian & Blum,
1997) and considerable social rewards are given to attractive
women (Conley & Ramsey, 2011; Evans, 2003). In face-to-face
interaction, people try to make good impressions on others through
embellishing their appearance, and these efforts can be translated
into the editing photos of themselves on SNSs (Chae, 2017).
Because the physical appearance of users frequently plays an
important role in impression formation on SNSs (Siibak, 2009),
many users manage their self-presentation through editing their
appearance in photos (Lowe-Calverley & Grieve, 2018). Hancock
and Toma (2009) and Walther (1992) have stated that selecting
one’s best photos as well as digitally altering photos can be
understood as selective self-presentation in a computer-mediated
environment. In sum, trying to manage one’s appearance in photos
to reap social advantages could be considered quite natural for
SNS users.
Studies concerning photo editing have been conducted examin-
ing the audiences’ perspective, that is, the perspective of those who
have viewed the edited photos of other SNS users (e.g., Harrison
& Hefner, 2014; Kleemans et al., 2018). Few studies have focused
on examining the relationships between users’ personalities and
their photo editing behavior in the SNS environment (Fox &
Rooney, 2015) or exploring the predictors of selfie-editing behav-
ior (Chae, 2017). However, to the best of our knowledge, very
limited studies to date have investigated the impact of photo
editing behavior on SNS users’ body images from the perspectives
of the image uploaders themselves (McLean et al., 2015; Mills et
al., 2018).
Moderating Role of Photo Editing Behavior Between
the Relationships of Internalization, Media Pressure,
and Body Satisfaction
There are frequent opportunities for SNS users to be exposed to
many edited images of others that conform or are closer to the
cultural ideals for body and appearance. Frequent exposure to ideal
images on SNSs can increase the tendency for appearance com-
parison among SNS users (Chae, 2017). Such appearance compar-
ison affects users’ body image, such as the internalization of and
pressure to have a thin body and ideal appearance (Tiggemann &
 PHOTO EDITING BEHAVIOR AND BODY SATISFACTION
Slater, 2013). In particular, young women’s internalization and
perceived pressure to have the ideal thin body can negatively
influence their body satisfaction in an SNS environment (Meier &
Gray, 2014; Strubel, Petrie, & Pookulangara, 2018).
The negative effects of edited photos of others on SNS users’
body image are likely to occur when SNS users perceive a higher
discrepancy between the exposed images and their own appear-
ance (self-discrepancy theory; Higgins, Klein, & Strauman, 1985).
This gap might be reduced by uploading edited photos of oneself
with a better appearance than before editing. Photo editing behav-
ior makes SNS users feel more confident, reducing the pressure put
on women through SNSs to have an ideal appearance and thin
body shape (Sung, Lee, Kim, & Choi, 2016). In this way, photo
editing may ultimately be able to alleviate the negative effects of
SNS use on body satisfaction. Therefore, we proposed the follow-
ing hypotheses. Specifically, we expected that internalization and
media pressure would be associated with lower body satisfaction
for those who use less photo editing behavior.
H1: Photo editing behavior will moderate the effect of inter-
nalization of a thin body ideal on body satisfaction among
young female SNS users.
H2: Photo editing behavior will moderate the effect of media
pressure on body satisfaction among young female SNS users.
Materials and Method
Participants and Procedure
The present study was approved by Inha University’s institu-
tional review board. Participants were recruited through a Korean
marketing research company that has a comparable proportion of
their members in terms of gender and age to national statistics. The
survey invitation was sent to female members aged in their 20s
through e-mail. Participants received membership points from the
marketing research company as an incentive for participating in
the survey.
Participants were limited to being young female SNS users who
used Facebook and/or Instagram—the top two most frequently
used profile-focused SNSs among Korean women aged in their 20s
(Lee & Lee, 2017). Based on the global statistics of daily profile-
focused SNS usage, only those who had used Facebook or Insta-
gram for more than 1 year and who spent more than 1 hr per day
on this activity were invited to participate (We Are Social, 2018).
To apply these inclusion criteria, participants were asked to answer
three questions: one open-ended question of “How long have you
used Facebook and/or Instagram in years and months?,” and two
closed-ended questions of “How often have you used Facebook
and/or Instagram during the last three months?” with the choices of
less than once a month, monthly, weekly, and daily, and “What is
the average time you spent on Facebook and/or Instagram per
day?” with the choices of less than 1/2 hr, 1/2 to 1 hr, 1 to 2 hr, 2
to 4 hr, and more than 4 hr. Among 406 female members interested
in this survey, 133 members were met the inclusion criteria of this
study and actually participated in the survey. Data collection was
ended when the total number of participants required for statistical
analysis was obtained. We used the sample size rule of thumb for
multiple regression (N ⬎ 50 ⫹ 8 ⫻ number of predictors) sug-
233
gested by Green (1991), which requires a minimum of 82 partic-
ipants for data analysis of this study.
A total of 133 young Korean women completed the online
questionnaire. For the major research variables of this study (in-
ternalization, media pressure, body satisfaction, photo editing be-
havior, and body mass index [BMI]), there were no missing data
and outliers were not detected. Therefore, all data from 133 re-
sponses were used for further analysis. Participants were aged
between 20 and 29 years, with a mean age of 24.6 years (SD ⫽
2.46). In terms of demographic characteristics, the sample was
generally consistent with national statistics. The majority of par-
ticipants (n ⫽ 106, 80%) had completed or were currently at
university. According to Korean national statistics, the rates of
college entrance in Korea in recent years have been very high
(83.8% in 2008 and 68.9% in 2017; Korean Educational Statistics
Service, 2017). The mean height and weight of participants were
161.9 cm (SD ⫽ 4.9) and 55.1 kg (SD ⫽ 8.9), respectively, with
a mean BMI (kg/m2) of 20.98 (SD ⫽ 3.12). Our sample was
similar to the national average for height (160.9 cm, SD ⫽ 5.2 for
women aged 20 to 24 years and 160.8 cm, SD ⫽ 4.9 for women
aged 25 to 29 years in 2015) and weight (55 kg, SD ⫽ 8.6 for
women aged 20 to 24 years and 56 kg, SD ⫽ 9.4 for women aged
25 to 29 years in 2015; Korean Statistical Information Service,
2015). The majority of participants (n ⫽ 112, 84.2%) were cur-
rently using photo editing applications when they uploaded and
shared their appearance-related photos on SNSs and most of these
participants (n ⫽ 104, 92.9%) used free photo editing applications.
Measures
Photo editing behavior. Young women’s self-reported photo
editing behavior was assessed by measuring the frequency of
photo editing application use with the question: “How often do you
use photo editing applications when you post your appearance-
related photos on SNS?” A 5-point response format was used
ranging from 1 (never) to 5 (always).
Internalization. The Internalization–Thin/Low Body Fat sub-
scale from the Sociocultural Attitudes Toward Appearance 4
(SATAQ– 4; Schaefer et al., 2015) was administered. The SATAQ– 4
includes two subscales for internalization (Internalization of Thin/
Low Body Fat and Muscular/Athletic) and three subscales for pres-
sure (Pressures from Family, Peers, and Media). Consistent with the
purpose of this study, we adopted only the Internalization–Thin/Low
Body Fat subscale. This subscale includes five items (e.g., “I want my
body to look very thin”). The response options ranged from 1 (defi-
nitely disagree) to 5 (definitely agree). Items were averaged, with
higher scores indicating greater levels of internalization. In the present
study, Cronbach’s alpha was .88.
Media pressure. The Pressures–Media subscale of the SATAQ–4
(Schaefer et al., 2015) was used to assess the levels of pressure from
SNSs to have a thin-ideal body. As this study focused on the pressures
from SNSs, only the Pressures–Media subscale was adopted. Partic-
ipants responded to four items such as “I feel pressure from the SNS
to look in better shape” on a 5-point Likert-type scale ranging from 1
(definitely disagree) to 5 (definitely agree). The average score of four
items was used for the analysis. Cronbach’s alpha in this study was
.94.
Body satisfaction. Body satisfaction was assessed by the Ap-
pearance Evaluation (AE) subscale of the Multidimensional Body-
234 LEE AND LEE

Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ; Cash, 2000). The 69 centered. For each regression, a simple slopes analysis was con-
items-MBSRQ scale includes nine subscales; only the AE subscale ducted and a graph was generated to compare the relationships
was administered in the questionnaire of this study. The seven- between the predictors (internalization and media pressure) and the
item scale measures feelings of physical (un)attractiveness and criterion at low (⫺1 SD) and high (⫹1 SD) levels of the moderator.
(dis)satisfaction with one’s looks. All items (e.g., I like my looks
just the way they are) were rated on a 5-point scale ranging from
1 (definitely disagree) to 5 (definitely agree). Item responses were Results
averaged, with higher scores reflecting higher body satisfaction.
Cronbach’s alpha for the Appearance Evaluation subscale in this
study was .87. Descriptive Statistics and Correlations
Demographics, SNS activity, and body mass index. Participants Descriptive information and the intercorrelations for the main
reported their age, gender, and the frequency of their SNS use to variables are displayed in Table 1. Internalization of a thin ideal
ensure that they were all female aged 20 –29 and using SNS for and media pressure were negatively correlated with body satisfac-
more than one hour daily. They were asked whether they currently
tion. Photo editing application use was negatively associated with
had any photo editing applications on their mobile phones and, if
internalization and media pressure, while positively associated
so, whether it was a free or purchased application. Demographic
with body satisfaction; however, these relationships were not sta-
information including education level, occupation, annual house-
tistically significant. Time spent on SNS per day was significantly
hold income, height, and weight was collected. BMI was calcu-
and positively correlated with internalization and media pressure.
lated using each respondent’s self-reported height and weight.

Statistical Analyses Moderating Effect of Photo Editing Behavior in the

Before the primary analysis, it was confirmed that five key
assumptions of linear regression were met. The assumptions of
presence of linear relationships between the independent variables
and body satisfaction (scatter plots), normality (skewness and
kurtosis), multicollinearity (correlations, tolerance, and variance
inflation factor), autocorrelations (Durbin-Watson test), and ho-
moscedasticity (scatter plot) were verified. For the primary anal-
ysis, descriptive statistics and correlational analyses were con-
ducted. Cronbach’s alpha was used to evaluate the reliability of
multiple-item measures (Krathwohl, 1998). To test the use of
photo editing applications as a moderator, two regression-based
moderation analyses were performed. In Model 1, the predictor
was the internalization of a thin/ideal body (Hypothesis 1), and in
Model 2, the predictor was media pressure (Hypothesis 2). For
both analyses, the moderating variable was the use of photo editing
applications and the dependent variable was body satisfaction. The
interaction terms were formed by multiplying each predictor by the
use of photo editing applications. Given that BMI was significantly
correlated with all variables except internalization, BMI was used
as a control variable. For both models, BMI was entered at Step 1
as a covariate, each predictor and the use of photo editing appli-
cations were entered at Step 2, and their interaction was entered at
Step 3. All predictors and the covariate variable were mean-
Relationship Between Internalization and Body Satisfaction
For Model 1 and in Step 3 (see Table 2), no significant effect of
the use of photo editing applications on body satisfaction was
found, but a significant negative effect of internalization was
discovered for body satisfaction. The coefficient for the interaction
term for internalization and photo editing application use was
entered in Step 3 and was significant. The improvement in R2 was
significant from Step 2 and Step 3 (⌬R2 ⫽ .03, p ⫽ .023),
indicating that the relationship between internalization and body
satisfaction was conditional upon the use of photo editing appli-
cations. The regression lines for internalization predicting body
satisfaction at two levels of photo editing application use were
created. This plot is presented in Figure 1.
The internalization of a thin body ideal was strongly related to
lower body satisfaction at low levels of photo editing application
use. The significance of the simple slopes was tested to check if the
regression weights for high and low levels of photo editing appli-
cation use significantly differed from zero (see Table 4). The
results revealed a significant negative effect of internalization on
body satisfaction at low levels of photo editing application use.
However, at high levels of photo editing application use, internal-
ization did not significantly influence body satisfaction.

Table 1
Means, Standard Deviations, and Intercorrelations for the Main Variables

Variable M SD Range 1 [95% CI] 2 [95% CI] 3 [95% CI] 4 [95% CI] 5 [95% CI]

1 3.56 1.18 1–5 —

2 3.55 .91 1–5 ⫺.02 [⫺.21, .18] —
3 3.40 1.08 1–5 ⫺.07 [⫺.25, .11] .72ⴱⴱⴱ [.63, .79] —
ⴱⴱⴱ
4 2.77 .77 1–5 .13 [⫺.05, .32] ⫺.28 [⫺.45, ⫺.11] ⫺.32ⴱⴱⴱ [⫺.50, ⫺.14] —
5 20.98 3.12 15.81–31.14 ⫺.25ⴱⴱ [⫺.43, ⫺.07] .14 [⫺.02, .30] .28ⴱⴱⴱ [.15, .42] ⫺.39ⴱⴱⴱ [⫺.51, ⫺.25] —
6 1.54 .75 1–3 ⫺.01 [⫺.18, .18] .24ⴱⴱ [.08, .39] .19ⴱ [.03, .34] ⫺.09 [⫺.25, .09] ⫺.02 [⫺.16, .13]
Note. N ⫽ 133. CI ⫽ confidence interval. 1 ⫽ photo editing behavior, 2 ⫽ internalization, 3 ⫽ media pressure, 4 ⫽ body satisfaction, 5 ⫽ body mass
index, 6 ⫽ time spent on SNS per day (1 ⫽ 1 ⬃ 2 hours, 2 ⫽ 2 ⬃ 4 hours, 3 ⫽ more than 4 hours).
ⴱ
p ⬍ .05. ⴱⴱ p ⬍ .01. ⴱⴱⴱ p ⬍ .001.
 PHOTO EDITING BEHAVIOR AND BODY SATISFACTION 235

Table 2
Summary of Regression Results Predicting Body Satisfaction With Photo Editing Behavior (PEB)
as a Moderator for Model 1: Internalization (N ⫽ 133)

Predictors R2 F for change in R2 B SE 95% CI t p

Step 1
BMI .15 23.10ⴱⴱⴱ ⫺.10 .02 [⫺.14, ⫺.06] ⫺4.81 ⬍.001
Step 2
BMI ⫺.09 .02 [⫺.13, ⫺.05] ⫺4.20 ⬍.001
Internalization ⫺.20 .07 [⫺.33, ⫺.07] ⫺2.98 .003
ⴱ
PEB .21 4.54 .03 .05 [⫺.08, .13] .50 .617
Step 3
BMI ⫺.07 .02 [⫺.11, ⫺.03] ⫺3.56 .001
Internalization ⫺.19 .07 [⫺.32, ⫺.06] ⫺2.82 .006
PEB .04 .05 [⫺.07, .14] .73 .466
Internalization ⫻ PEB .24 5.30ⴱ .12 .05 [.02, .22] 2.30 .023
Note. BMI ⫽ body mass index.
ⴱ
p ⬍ .05. ⴱⴱⴱ p ⬍ .001.

Moderating Effect of Photo Editing Behavior in the Discussion and Conclusions

Relationship Between Media Pressure and
Body Satisfaction
Regression-based moderation analyses for media pressure for
Model 2 revealed the same pattern of results in Model 1 (see Table
3). In Step 3, a nonsignificant effect of the use of photo editing
behavior on body satisfaction was found, while a significant neg-
ative effect of media pressure was discovered for body satisfaction.
The coefficient for the interaction term for media pressure and
photo editing application use was significant in Step 3. The im-
provement in R2 was significant from Step 2 and Step 3 (⌬R2 ⫽
.05, p ⫽ .006), indicating that the relationship between media
pressure and body satisfaction was conditional upon the use of
photo editing applications. The regression lines for media pressure
predicting body satisfaction at the two levels of photo editing
application use are presented in Figure 2.
The simple slope tests for media pressure indicated a similar
pattern of results for internalization (see Table 4). A significant
negative effect of media pressure on body satisfaction was found
at low levels of photo editing application use. However, at high
levels of photo editing application use, media pressure did not
significantly influence body satisfaction.
3.4
3.2
Body Satisfaction
Consistent with previous research and the tripartite influence
model of body image, the results of this study confirmed the
negative effects of internalization and media pressure on body
satisfaction among young female SNS users (Tiggemann & Slater,
2013). Overall, both the level of internalization and perceived
media pressure to have a thin body ideal were significantly and
negatively correlated with body satisfaction. This study focused on
a recent behavioral trend among SNS users—the use of photo
editing applications—and examined its moderating effect on the
inverse relationships between the internalization of a thin/ideal
body, media pressure to have a thin/ideal body, and body satisfac-
tion. Results indicated that the use of photo editing applications
can influence the negative effect of SNSs use on young women’s
body satisfaction. The significant negative effects of internaliza-
tion and media pressure on body satisfaction lessened at relatively
high levels of photo editing application use. That is, the use of
photo editing applications appeared to help protect female SNS
users’ positive feelings toward their bodies. In explanation of this,
it could be argued that women who uploaded photos after enhanc-
ing their appearance using photo editing applications may have felt
less discrepancy between their own edited photo images and the
thin ideal images presented on SNS by others. Supported by the
self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987; Higgins et al., 1985), a
low level of body image discrepancy between the self and ideal
can lead to body satisfaction (Bessenoff, 2006).
Over a billion people regularly use SNSs, and the number of

3 users continues to grow globally (Statista, 2017). In line with a

Low PEB
previous study by Kleemans et al. (2018), the results of this study
2.8
High PEB confirmed that photo editing behavior is a common practice among
2.6 SNS users. Given the negative effects of manipulated Instagram
2.4 photos on the body images of viewers, Kleemans et al. (2018)
recommended adding a disclosure stating the possibilities of re-
2.2
touched/manipulated photos shown on Instagram. Similarly, some
2 countries like Israel, France, and the United Kingdom, have been
Low Internalization High Internalization
regulating the use of Photoshop and image editing on model’s
Figure 1. Regression lines showing the relationships between internal- photos for advertising purposes. A recent new law in France
ization and body satisfaction by low (⫺1 SD) and high (⫹1 SD) levels of requires that all digitally altered photos must be labeled as “pho-
photo editing behavior (PEB). tographie retouchée” for commercial uses. As Kleemans et al.
236 LEE AND LEE

Table 3
Summary of Regression Results Predicting Body Satisfaction With Photo Editing Behavior (PEB)
as a Moderator for Model 2: Media Pressure (N ⫽ 133)

F for change
Predictors R2 in R2 B SE 95% CI T p

Step 1
BMI .15 23.10ⴱⴱⴱ ⫺.10 .02 [⫺.14, ⫺.06] ⫺4.81 ⬍.001
Step 2
BMI ⫺.08 .02 [⫺.12, ⫺.04] ⫺3.69 ⬍.001
Media pressure ⫺.17 .06 [⫺.28, ⫺.05] ⫺2.81 .006
ⴱ
PEB .20 4.04 .02 .05 [⫺.08, .13] .45 .655
Step 3
BMI ⫺.06 .02 [⫺.11, ⫺.02] ⫺3.09 .002
Media pressure ⫺.18 .06 [⫺.29, ⫺.06] ⫺3.10 .002
PEB .04 .05 [⫺.07, .14] .74 .462
Media Pressure ⫻ PEB .25 7.93ⴱⴱ .13 .05 [.04, .22] 2.82 .006
Note. BMI ⫽ body mass index.
ⴱ
p ⬍ .05. ⴱⴱ p ⬍ .01. ⴱⴱⴱ p ⬍ .001.

(2018) noted, such disclosures can play a protective role in reduc-
ing the harmful effects of SNS use on body image among adoles-
cent girls. However, many young SNS users may be already aware
of the fact that the images of others on SNS are often manipulated.
Moreover, they also consider that the use of photo editing appli-
cations is mandatory procedure before uploading their own photos
(Lee & Lee, 2017). The most important implication arising from
this study is the possibility that young SNS users may alleviate the
various negative impacts of SNS use on body image through photo
editing behavior. The significant and potentially positive functions
of the use of photo editing applications are therefore highlighted
through this work.
Findings from this study can also account for why the use of
photo editing applications is increasing among young female SNS
users. The use of photo editing applications might be an easier and
more accessible way to manage one’s appearance compared to
other methods, such as dieting and cosmetic surgery. That is,
users’ photo editing behavior can be viewed as a “cheater strategy”
to meet the expectations of others within the society they belong to
(Fox & Rooney, 2015). By using photo editing applications, SNS
users can exert control over the management of their appearance.
An individual may consider that her edited appearance presented
on her own SNS is under her control, thus feeling more comfort-
able and confident compared to those who upload photos without
appearance enhancement.
The findings of this study should be interpreted in light of a
number of limitations that indicate the need for additional research
in this area. First, this study adopted a convenience sampling
method, which limits the generalizability of the findings. This
study focused on SNS users who used SNS more than one hour per
day, given findings that the effect of SNS on users’ body image
concerns can increase with the frequency and duration of time
spent on SNSs. Further studies classifying the study sample by
using more systematic measures of SNS usage, such as SNS
addiction, will provide a deeper understanding of the effects of
photo editing behavior on users’ body image. Second, the gener-
alizability of the results may be limited due to the online survey
title—SNS use and female body image. This may have led women
with high levels of previous body concerns to be especially moti-
vated to participate in this study. A third limitation is that photo
editing behavior was assessed by measuring the frequency of
photo editing application use when participants posted their
appearance-related photos on SNSs. The use of specific functions
in photo editing applications for various types of photos (e.g., face
only or full bodied photos) was not differentiated in this study.
Given that a variety of photo editing applications are available and
each application has different purposes, further study investigating
the effects of photo editing used for different purposes will deepen
our understanding. Moreover, studies exploring the relationship
between photo editing behavior and ideal body image in different
societies and cultures will further our understanding of SNS user
3.4
3.2
Body Satisfaction

2.8 Low PEB

Table 4
High PEB
Simple Slopes Analyses 2.6

Model: predictor B SE 95% CI t p 2.4

2.2
Model 1: Predictor (internalization)
1 SD below mean ⫺.33 .09 [⫺.50, ⫺.16] ⫺3.80 ⬍.001 2
1 SD above mean ⫺.05 .09 [⫺.23, .14] ⫺.50 .620 Low Media Pressure High Media Pressure
Model 2: Predictor (media pressure)
1 SD below mean ⫺.33 .08 [⫺.49, ⫺.17] ⫺4.03 ⬍.001 Figure 2. Regression lines showing the relationships between media
1 SD above mean ⫺.03 .08 [⫺.18, .12] ⫺.36 .716
pressure and body satisfaction by low (⫺1 SD) and high (⫹1 SD) levels of
Note. N ⫽ 133. photo editing behavior (PEB).
 PHOTO EDITING BEHAVIOR AND BODY SATISFACTION
behavior. Fourth, it should be noted that the results of this study do
not confirm the presence of causal relationships between photo
editing behavior and body satisfaction. Regression analysis also
revealed no significant effect of photo editing behavior on body
satisfaction. However, we can speculate that the negative SNS
effects on body image can be lessened among female users with
high levels of photo editing application use. Further studies ex-
ploring these causal relationships are required. Finally, the results
of this study should be carefully interpreted due to the possibility
of side effects from the use of photo editing applications. For
example, photo editing may strengthen users’ feelings of self-
objectification, meaning that SNS users may tend to view their
own body and appearance as an object through the process of
editing their appearance in photos (Fox & Rooney, 2015). Further
studies investigating the underlying mechanisms of photo editing
behavior and the effects of this behavior are also warranted.
Résumé
L’utilisation d’applications de retouche photo pour améliorer
l’apparence des photos avant le téléchargement est largement
répandue chez les jeunes utilisateurs de sites de réseaux sociaux
(SNS). Le but de cette étude était d’identifier les effets modéra-
teurs du comportement de retouche photo dans les relations entre
l’intériorisation, la pression médiatique et la satisfaction corporelle
chez les utilisatrices de SNS. Les données ont été recueillies auprès
de 133 femmes coréennes utilisatrices de SNS âgées dans la
vingtaine ayant affirmé utiliser les réseaux Facebook et (ou) In-
stagram pendant plus d’une heure par jour. La majorité des par-
ticipantes (84 %) ont affirmé qu’elles utilisaient actuellement une
application de retouche photo pour publier des photos d’elles-
mêmes. Les résultats ont montré que le comportement de retouche
photo (fréquence d’utilisation de l’application de retouche photo)
modérait une relation inverse entre l’intériorisation d’idéaux de
minceur, la pression médiatique, et la satisfaction corporelle. Des
relations considérablement négatives entre l’intériorisation et la
pression médiatique vers un idéal de minceur et de satisfaction
corporelle ont uniquement été constatées chez les femmes ayant
affiché un niveau faible du comportement de retouche photo (et
non chez celles ayant affiché un niveau élevé) relativement à
l’utilisation d’applications de retouche photo. Les résultats de cette
étude soulignent le potentiel des fonctions positives du comporte-
ment de retouche photo, ce qui atténue les impacts négatifs de
l’utilisation des SNS sur l’image corporelle des jeunes femmes
utilisatrices de SNS.
Mots-clés : comportement de retouche photo, intériorisation, pres-
sion médiatique, satisfaction corporelle.
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Received November 6, 2018
Revision received March 20, 2019
Accepted April 13, 2019 䡲
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