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Major Papers by Master of Science Students Textiles, Fashion Merchandising and Design

2022

The Influence of Tik Tok on Body Image

Hannah Wood
University of Rhode Island

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 The Influence of Tik Tok on Body Image

Hannah Wood

Department of Textiles, Merchandising, and Design

TMD 540

Dr. Jessica Strübel

May 4th, 2022

 The Influence of Tik Tok on Body Image

Statement of the Problem

The purpose of this study is to understand the influence of social media on young girls’

body image. This study will examine how Tik Tok, in particular, can affect their body image.

Understanding how social media influences body image is important because negative body

image can often lead to body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem, dieting, and eating disorders. Most

research has examined the relationship between social media and body image. However, not

much research has explored the relationship between Tik Tok and body image regarding social

comparison.

Justification for and Significance of the Study

This study aims to fill the research gap in understanding the relationship between Tik Tok

and body image. Little research has shown the adverse effects that Tik Tok can have on one’s

body image and self-esteem. Tik Tok’s ForYouPage is an individual landing page for users that

consists of curated videos. Many toxic trends and triggering videos are found on the

ForYouPage, encouraging girls to eat 1000 calories a day to lose weight. Another reason behind

this research is to better comprehend how these girls feel after scrolling through Tik Tok. Do

they feel the need to start dieting? Are they dissatisfied with their bodies? This study will address

the issues of social media and the impact that it has on young girls.

Body Image

Body image is a complex construct that affects the cognitive attitudes and evaluations

that we make of ourselves. This determines how we perceive ourselves and

relate to the physical parts of the body being built on societal biases (Linkenauger et al., 2017;

Sadibolova et al., 2019). Body image adapts and changes while the body itself changes as it is

accessible to external social influences such as friends, family, and culture. Body image is

known as how people are pleased with their physical appearance, including their body size and

shape (Muth & Cash, 1997; Hülsing, 2021; Grogan, 2008; Pharamita & Dariyo, 2021). If there is

a disparity between judgments about the body and its physical aspects, it can lead to body image

disorders. Finding the degree of perceived body image disorders early in risk populations can be

important in lowering their occurrence (Pitron et al., 2018).

Researchers Thompson and Van den Berg (2002) developed a four-part model that

defines the mutli-dimensional ideal of body image. Taking into account all aspects of body

image is important because past studies have shown that traditional media influenced each aspect

separately (Grabe et al., 2008). For the purpose of this study, the subjective dimensions will be

the only dimension measured and discussed in later sections. For reference, the other dimensions

are mentioned. The affective dimension refers to the emotions and feelings one has towards their

body. The cognitive dimension includes the beliefs people have about their bodies. The

behavioral dimension refers to the actions people may engage in relating to the perceptions of

their body. The subjective dimension attributes one’s global satisfaction to their body and

appearance (Hülsing, 2021; Pharamita & Dariyo, 2021; Saiphoo & Vahedi, 2019).

Body Dissatisfaction

Body image dissatisfaction is known for being a common issue that is experienced by a

majority of society (Dohnt & Tiggemann, 2006; Polivy & Herman, 2002). Previous exploration

has marked adolescence (ages 10-19) (Sawyer et al., 2018) as the start of body dissatisfaction,
while continuous exploration shows that preadolescent girls also wish to be thinner (Cusumano

& Thompson, 2001; Dohnt & Tiggemann, 2006; Field et al., 2006).

A significant amount of research claims that the negative distress caused by body

dissatisfaction and its association with low self-esteem can lead to the development of unhealthy

dieting behaviors and eating disorders (Keery et al., 2004; Neumark-Sztainer et al., 2006; Paxton

et al., 2006; Stice, 2002; Wichstrom, 1999). Individual attributes such as depressive moods, low

self-esteem, and higher body mass index are risk factors for body dissatisfaction (Field et al.,

2001; Paxton et al., 2006; Presnell et al., 2004). Sociocultural factors such as exposure to

idealized images, dieting, pressures to be thin, and weight teasing have also increased body

dissatisfaction (Field et al., 2001; Groesz et al., 2002; Paxton et al., 2006; Stice & Whitenton,

2002).

Drive for Thinness and the Thin Ideal

The thin ideal is a well-documented phenomenon in western culture, which equates

beauty with thinness (Flannery-Schroder & Chrysler, 1996; Levine & Smolak, 1996; Stice, 1994;

Thompson et al., 2006). Having an ideal body is something that many individuals desire

however, the discrepancy in one’s body condition can cause body dissatisfaction and affect one’s

mood (Brown & Tiggemann, 2021; Pharamita & Dariyo, 2021). The harmful effects of the thin

ideal exposure on social media have been attributed to social comparison (Brown & Tiggemann,

2021). Finding the main cause of body image issues is important for the prevention and treatment

of eating disorders and depression (Dohnt & Tiggemann, 2006; Smolak, 2004).

Adolescent stereotypes are related to their views of particular body types (Herbozo, 2010;

Kirkpatrick & Sanders, 1978; Tiggemann & Wilson-Barret, 1998). These stereotypes appear to
develop in early childhood during a time when positive attributes are assigned to figures

considered to be attractive (Dion, Berscheild & Walster, 1972; Feldman et al., 1998; Freedman,

1984; Gilbert, 1998; Grogan, 1999; Kirkpatrick & Sanders, 1978; Rodin et al., 1985; Tiggemann

& Wilson-Barret, 1998). It is not surprising then that children have expressed body image

concerns such as the desire for a thinner body. The preference for thinness may come from

media messages that emphasize the desirable traits related to a body shape that is thinner than the

average woman (Herbozo et al., 2019).

Social Media

Social media is an internet-based community created visually to build profiles

individually and socially (Pharamita & Dariyo, 2021). Social media platforms are created around

the concept of personal profiles that resembles a homepage that serves to describe each site. It is

also used to make communication easy between people through digital devices (Garst, 2019;

Yamout et al., 2019). 80% of adolescents own one form of new media technology, including cell

phones or computers, and use it frequently to text or message their friends or other people online

(Ray & Ramjat, 2010). Most adults use these platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, and

Twitter. In today’s society, the media plays an important role in guiding the values of young

people.

Children and adolescents discovering social media platforms spend most of their time

engaging with new media (Asparouhova, 2015). Time spent on social media lowers the amount

of time available for other activities such as sports, community service, and family time. The

effects of social media are harmful in influencing the behaviors of adolescents (Ray &

Ramjat, 201). Exposure to media violence has been related to aggressive behaviors, ideals,

arousal, and anger.

 Many adolescents are not yet mature enough to differentiate between fantasy and reality,

especially when presented in real life (Ray & Ramjat, 2010). For example, Instagram material is

peer-generated and could be beneficial, but most of it is highly staged and unrealistic. Users

spend hours editing photos using filters or photoshop to produce the best versions of themselves

(Chua & Chang, 2016; Dumas et al., 2017). The recognition of Instagram being unrealistic has

grown the ‘Instagram vs. Reality’ movement. It includes users posting pictures of themselves

side-by-side; one picture is “ideal” while the other is unedited. The purpose of this movement

was to remind users, women in particular, that the media is fake (Beauty by Disaster, 2019;

Messina, 2017).

Tik Tok

One of the most current trending social networking sites is Tik Tok, which was founded

in 2016 by the Chinese Tech Company ByteDance (BBC, 2021). The main type of content on

this platform consists of short 30-60 second videos that include users dancing or lip-syncing,

among other types of videos. Some can be more harmful than others because they include

content about dieting in general or popular dieting trends that have users eating 1,000 calories a

day. These videos are detrimental to adolescents because it encourages them that dieting equates

to weight loss. The adversely related content also features videos where ideal bodies are being

shown. Young girls do not need to be worried about losing weight or being “thinner”; they just

need to worry about being a kid.

Many viral TikTok trends that land on one’s ForYouPage or individual landing page for

users can lead to the idea that the new platform features triggering content. Viral challenges

impact the body image of young users (Hülsing, 2021; Liu, 2021). These videos often show

stereotypes about beauty which have recurring gestures. Users will display behavior changes to
show that they are sexy and attractive, as being sexy is related to beauty. Medical conditions

such as acne are considered unattractive (Liu, 2021). Users who experience a negative influence

of Tik Tok consumption on body image are often related to the content they consume (Hülsing,

2021).

Tik Tok’s algorithm can track what users like to browse and interact with, then

recommend or show similar videos to increase the number of views. An algorithm is a way of

sorting posts in a user’s feed based on relevancy instead of publishing time. The app has

communities separated by interests and cultivates users’ sense of belonging while increasing

competitive pressure (Liu, 2021). The increasing trends have attracted the attention of people

who are prone to eating disorders and body image disorders (Dempster, 2019; Liu, 2021). These

videos also take advantage of people’s anxiety about dissatisfaction.

Understanding how Tik Tok differs from other platforms is important in determining its

relationship with body image. The app is relatively new, so researchers are still unaware of its

effects on young users mental health and body image. Tik Tok has become the place for young

people to express themselves in many ways. The culture and structure of the platform encourages

users to imitate each others and participate in popular trends. Unlike Instagram, the platform uses

videos to show stereotypes about beauty standards (Liu, 2021). Tik Tok can attract people’s

attention through its new features by accelerating this stereotype functions such as hashtags and

influencers who have a drive for attention (Liu, 2021).

Influencers

Social media stars or “influencers” have a powerful impact on the platform through

personal connections followers have towards them (Marks et al., 2020). Influencers attract a

large follower base by posting pictures that showcase a luxurious lifestyle, where their followers
can aspire to be like them. Those who post images of their body often fit the thin ideal, which is

known to be associated with negative body image (Bauer, 2021). Examining the role of

influencers is important within the relationship of appearance-based comparisons. Given that

these comparisons with others are thought to influence women’s body image, it is important to

investigate how comparisons made with Instagram differ from those made with other media

(Bauer, 2020). There are three types of influencers on social media categorized by the number of

followers. Micro-influencers have between 1,000 and 100,00 followers, middle-influencers have

between 100,000 to 500,000 followers, macro-influencers have between 500,000 to 1 million,

and celebrity influencers have over 1 million (Arora et al., 2019).

Social Media and Body Image

Many researchers claim that the mass media are one of the leading factors behind body

dissatisfaction and eating disorders (Levine & Murnen, 2009; Lopez et al., 2010). Social media

allows for continuous interactions and exposure, while many media portray unattainable beauty

standards (Bell, 2016). Socio-cultural factors such as friends, family, peers, and the media

reinforce beauty standards and the drive for thinness (Saiphoo & Vahedi, 2019; Thompson et al.,

1999). These factors provide the most theoretical explanation of body dissatisfaction and dieting

behaviors in adolescent girls (Stice, 1994; Thompson et al., 1999).

Proposed Theoretical Framework

Social comparison theory has been used to elucidate how the media and peer messages

may influence an individual’s perception of their body (Festinger, 1954). This theory proposes

that people are driven to evaluate their progress and stand on many aspects of their lives
(Fardouly et al., 2015; Festinger, 1954). The harmful effect of exposure to thin idealized media

images on women’s and adolescents’ body satisfaction has been attributed to the process of

social comparison (Bauer, 2020; Festinger, 1954). Women are more likely than men to use social

media to view others’ photos and engage in comparing themselves. This is because women

struggle with body dissatisfaction and use image-based social media more than men.

Festinger (1954) claims that individuals who are unsure of themselves are more likely to engage

in social comparisons. This is supported by research that has found individuals who are

depressed or have low self-esteem are more likely to make comparisons (Campbell, 1990;

Gibbons & Buunk, 1999; Weary et al., 1987; Wood et al., 1994).

This theory also postulates that humans have an innate drive to compare themselves to

others to make evaluations of their abilities. When comparing their appearance to thin and

attractive models, most women and girls fall short, feeling negative about themselves (Brown &

Tiggemann, 2016). Experimental research has confirmed the negative effects of media exposure

on negative mood and body dissatisfaction. Social comparison theory also suggests that

comparisons will be readily made with targets similar to oneself as the comparison provides the

most information (Brown & Tiggemann, 2016).

There are two types of social comparisons, upward and downward comparisons. The

upward social comparison refers to comparing oneself with people perceived as superior to

improve themselves. The downward social comparison refers to comparing oneself with people

perceived as inferior to feel better about themselves (Festinger, 1954). People compare

themselves every day to their peers and those on social media. It proposes that individuals

process social information and evaluate themselves by comparing others. For the purpose of this

study, social comparison makes a good mediator between Tik Tok and body image because it
helps to explain the relationship. For example, young girls scrolling through Tik Tok follow

influencers or other users that may be thinner or prettier than they are. Peer, media or socio-

cultural influences heavily influence body image as they show images of ideal body stereotypes.

Users who fit the stereotypes are often the ones that young users’ look up to and desire to be like.

This theory helps to develop the three hypotheses and research question for this study. How does

Tik Tok directly influence young girls’ body image? (1)Tik Tok directly influences social

comparisons, (2) social comparisons directly influence body image, and (3)Tik Tok directly

influences body image (see figure 1).

Figure 1

Social
Tik Tok Body Image
Comparison

Methodology

Phase 1

Proposed Procedures

This study will utilize an explanatory sequential mixed-methods approach as it will be set

up into two phases: quantitative and qualitative. This approach involves collecting both forms of
data, integrating them, and using distinct designs that involve philosophical assumptions and

theoretical frameworks. The quantitative data will be further explained by the quantitative data

which is important considering this study and population. The quantitative survey design tests

the relationship between the variables while the qualitative phenomenological design will use the

participants experiences. Having both quantitative and qualitative data will provide a complete

understanding of the research problem than either data approaches alone. The ways to integrate

the two using one database can be used to check the accuracy and validity of the other database

(Creswell & Creswell).

Site Setting

The survey will be created using Qualtrics, an online questionnaire website that allows

for distribution and data collection tools. Having the survey be taken online will alllow for

participants to take it on their own time and in the privacy of their own home. Taking the survey

in a group setting might make them feel rushed or uncomfortable. The survey also requires a

larger sample size so it would be difficult to try and coordinate 385 people’s schedules.

Proposed Population

Adolescence can be described as when children first develop a sense of identity and

autonomy (Erikson, 1968). This period in life can be made more difficult by the high prevalence

of mental challenges (Burns et al., 2009), and many mental disorders are first seen in

adolescence (Patel et al., 2007). Previous research shows that adolescents experience social

media as a threat to their mental health (Hülsing, 2021). This makes exposure to unrealistic body

standards harmful for a younger audience. Researchers state that the growing identity
development among this age group is related to body image. There is a continuous discussion

about what ages adolescence refers to (Wängqvist & Frisen, 2013).

Proposed Sample

The first phase in this study will require a sample of 385 participants to receive an

accurate amount of data information. These participants will be from the proposed population,

adolescent girls, ages 13 to 15. Obtaining the size was determined by the sample

𝑋 2 𝑁𝑃(1−𝑃)
formula,𝐶 2(𝑁−1)+𝑋 2𝑃(1−𝑃)which contains a built-in correction for taking samples from small

populations.

𝑋 2 is the chi-square value for 1 degree of freedom. Chi square relates to a statistical

methods assessing the goodness of fit between the observed values (Weiss & Weiss, 2019).

Degree of freedom is a number of independently values or quantities which can be assigned to a

statistical distribution. N is the populat size and refers to the number of individuals in a

population. P is the population parameter, which is any measured quantity of a statistical

population, and C is the confidence level, which is the probability that the value of a parameter

falls within a certain range of values (Weiss & Weiss, 2019).

Participant Recruitment

Recruting participants require adult consent to participate in the study because they are

under age. IRB approval will be required to reach out to local schools about the research study.

Contacting these schools near the University of Rhode Island in South Kingstown, will start of

the recruitment process and get an idea of who is interested in joining. Girls will be asked if they

would like to participate in a study on the influence of Tik Tok usage on body image.
Proposed Selection Process

Once recruiting girls from local schools, selecting who will be a part of the study is the

next important step. This study will use nonprobability sampling as it depends on the participants

availability and convenience. It will be necessary that each participant uses Tik Tok daily and are

familiar with certain content on the app including dieting or dancing trends and are aware of

popular influencers such as Charlie Damelio. It will also be necessary that these girls feel

comfortable talking about sensitive topics and are at least aware of what body image

dissatisfaction and the drive for thinness are. After obtaining IRB approval, consent from the

participants and their parents will be required in order for the data collection process to start.

Data Collection

The variables are being measured using instruments that ask a series of questions on a

Likert scale. A Likert scale allows you to measure the variables with interval levels of

measurements, ranking your answers. The variables being measured are Tik Tok usae, social

comparison, and body image for adolescent girls. The scales chosen were adapted from previous

studies as they best fit the variables being measured.

Measures

To measure the dependent variable of body image, the Adolescent Body Image

Satisfaction Scale (Leone et al., 2014) was adapted from a content analysis of extant body image

referring to young men. (see figure 1, appendix). An additional analysis of recent measures of

body image and behaviors, including eating diosrders inventory and body image satisfaction

scale was also adapted (Leone et al., 2014). 16 items were adapted from the scale for this study

using the frequency of identified themes and were written as ideas that capture body image
concerns supported by previous research (Leone et al., 2014). Although the scale adapted was

created with adolescent men in mind, it can also be used for adolescent women because future

validation of the scale in other populations will be necessary.

Adapted questions include, “I feel confident in my body” or “I feel connected with my

body” and were scored using a 4-point Likert scale to determine body image satisfaction ranging

from (1) strongly agree to (4) strongly disagree. The adapted model describes a significant

amount of variance at 42.7% in the underlying construct of body image and had adequate to

good reliability from 0.64 to 0.82. An exploratory factor analysis provides support for a valid and

reliable measure for assessing body image satisfaction for the adapted scale. Higher scores

represent a stronger level of body dissatisfaction (Leone et al., 2014).

To measure the mediator variable, social comparisons, the social comparison scale

adapted for this study was developed using a semantic differential methodology (Osgood, Suci &

Tannenbaum, 1957). The purpose of social comparisons are to serve the formation of social

ranks derived from comparisons of relative strength, power, and aggressiveness and social

attractiveness and talent Barkow, 1980; Kemper, 1990; Gilbert, 1992). The earlier version of this

scale measured five social comparisons on main, global dimensions relevant to relative

judgments of rank and status (see figure 2, appendix) (Gilbert & Allan,1994). The primary

concerns of the adapted scale were to keep it relatively short while trying to tap judgements

concerned with rank, and how a person compares themselves to fit in with or be like others.

Questions adapted from the scale include “In relationship to others, I generally feel… inferior-

superior…” This set of items was associated with social comparisons. The Cronbach's alpha for

the five-item rank was 0.87 and test-retest reliability at four months was 0.84 (Gilbert & Allan,

1994).
 The Social Media Integration Scale, used to measure the independent variable of Tik Tok

usage, represents social integration and emotional connection while integrating into social

routines (Jenkins-Gudarnieri et al., 2013). Adapting the scale to refer to Tik Tok would be more

accurate in measuring participants usage. Influencers play an important role in influencing young

users on social media platforms. Including a few items about the influence of influencers would

also be beneficial in understanding the relationship between Tik Tok usage and body image.

Sample questions include “I get upset when I can’t log on to Facebook” and would be adapted to

Tik Tok. The 10-item scale was adapted used a five-point Likert scale ranging from (1) strongly

disagree to (5) strongly agree. The high mean values indicate high levels of social media usage.

The cronbach’s alpha for the entire adapted scale was reliable at 0.891 (see figure 4, appendix).

Proposed Data Analysis

Analyzing the survey results is an important step in accurately evaluating and interpreting

the data. The purpose of hypothesis testing is to use statistical prcoedures in order to measure a

relationship between variables. Since the study is testing the 3 hypotheses with nominal levels of

measurements, with Tik Tok usage impacting social comparisons, social comparison mediating

the relationship, and Tik Tok impacting body image one-way analysis of variance or ANOVA is

the correct approach (Creswell & Creswell, 2018).

This type of hypothesis tests is used to determine if there is a difference between the two

variables, meaning there may or may not be a significant relationship. Results from the data

analysis may or may not show a significant relationship between the two variables but that does

not mean there is not a relationship at all. Not having significant results means that the

relationship between two variables is not strong or important enough to make theoretical

implications to previous research.

Resources Required

SPSS, a data analysis software, will be used to analyze the survey results in order to

determine the significance of the relationship between the variables.

Phase 2

Proposed Procedures

The qualitative phase of this study will utilize phenomenological research through focus

group interviews. Phenomenological research allows the researcher to describe the lived

experiences of individuals about a phenomenon, which in this study is the phenomenon of Tik

Tok. Through focus group interviews, the researcher can ask participants about their experiences

using Tik Tok, and how it makes them feel about their body image.

Site Setting

The focus groups will take place in a small conference room on campus, a classroom, or

Zoom to make it more accessible for the participants and their parents. Audio-recording, the

focus groups will be beneficial for the coding and data analysis process. This will ensure that

each answer was properly recorded and no information was left out. Conducting these interviews

in a group setting will allow for observations of the participants and see how they interact with

each other.

Proposed Population

The proposed population for the qualitative phase will be the same as the quantitative

phase. Adolescents represent being born in a digital age, meaning they grew up with new

technology and are familiar with it. Growing up with social media has shown to have both
positive and negative effects on adolescents; cognitive, social, and behavioral development )ray

& Ramjat, 2010).

Proposed Sample

The qualitative phase of this study will require a sample between 6-12 participants, as

recommended by previous studies (Crewell & Creswell, 2018). Larger samples are usually more

accurate than smaller ones, so utilizing more participants will benefit this study and increase the

reliability and validity. A simple random sample will be used in order to determine which

participants will be interviewed. This study proposes only one focus group interview to gather all

the qualitative data, however more focus groups may occur to obtain more data.

Participant Recruitment

Phase 2 of the study will require IRB approval and consent in order to conduct the foucs

group interviews. Parental consent will also be required because the participants are underage.

Once obtaining IRB approval and parent consent, girls who took the survey will also be asked if

they would like to participate in a focus group interview. Since the study already has a

substantial amount of participants from phase 1, recruiting girls to join the study will be easier.

Proposed Selection Process

Phase 2 of the study only requires 6-12 participants, so selecting girls from phase 1 will

be the best way to determine who to interview during the focus groups. Randomly selecting

participants will ensure that each participant has an equal chance to participate. Once selected,

each participant will be asked preliminary questions to ensure that they use Tik Tok and are

familiar with body image dissatisfaction and the drive for thinness, etc.
Data Collection

The purpose of the survey is to test the relationship between the variables whereas focus

groups are based on one’s experience. The use of focus groups in this study are to build off of the

results from the survey. Unlike a questionnaire where participants could respond quickly to each

question, the focus groups require participants to provide more detailed answers. Using group

interviews as opposed to individual interviews allow for participants' observation and to see how

they interact with and behave around each other.

Measures

Every focus group requires a protocol to help guide the researcher (see figure 5,

appendix). Consent is key in the beginning process of the interview specifically considering the

sensitivty of the topics in concerns, as it reiterates that the participants do not have to stay if they

are uncomfortable or no longer wish to be a part of the study. After obtaining consent for the

second time, it is important to ensure that each question is clear, concise, and composed in a

language that participants can understand. Example questions include, “how do you feel about

your body after scrolling through Tik Tok?” or “what kind of content do you consume on Tik

Tok? Asking the participants specific questions about their experience on Tik Tok will provide

further insight on the relationship between Tik Tok and body image. Ensuring that the interview

is audio-recorded can help code the answers during data analysis.

Proposed Data Analysis

Thematic analysis of qualitative data is the ideal way to identify themes from the focus

group interviews. Identifying common themes can help determine what the participants were

trying to convey in their responses. This type of analysis is primarily inductive, meaning that it
focuses on building patterns, categories and themes and organizing it into more abstract

categories (Creswell & Creswell, 2018). This inductive approach illustrates working back and

forth between the themes and the database until themes have been identified. The deductive

approach to this analysis includes looking back at themes to determine if more evidence can

support each theme or if more information is needed. Some themes that may be identified

include body image, body dissatisfaction, and the drive for thinness, etc. Putting categories into

themes can organize the data and prepare it for interpretation. Creating a themes for each

category, such as “body image 100” can be related to body image in general. “Body Image 200”

can be related to more specific body image issues.

Since the qualitative data cannot be statistically analyzed, as it requires other types of

reliability and validity. In this phase, the focus is often on intercoder agreement between multiple

coders that analyze the transcribed data from the focus group interviews. Holsti’s Coefficient

was used to accurately determine the reliability of the qualitative data, 2M/N1 + N2. M

determines the number of coding agreements between two coders (Goswami, 2022). N1

represents the number of coding decisions made by coder 1. N2 represents the number of coding

decisions made by coder 2. The validity of qualitative data can come from multiple sources

including participant feedback, or asking your participants tol collaborate, as well as a peer

review of the data (Creswell & Creswell, 2018).

Resources Required

The qualitative phase of the study will require Zoom or a conference room to conduct the

focus groups. The university’s Zoom login will allow full access, including unlimited time for

the meeting. If the focus groups occur in person, they will be conducted on campus, preferable in
a small conference room. Privacy is important when discussing sensitive topics and dealing with

under-aged participants.

Steps in Resolvig the Problem

The propoosed study aimed to identify a research gap, which is the lack of exploration

and examination of the relationship between Tik Tok and young girls’ body image. The

implications of this study show that certain Tik Tok content can be detrimental to young girls’

development and mental health. It is imortant to teach adolescents how to navigate the digital

world including how to differentiate between fantasy and reality. This study had a few

limitations as it focuses on a vulnerable population and sensitive topic. All the data gathered is

from other scholarly articles and journals, which lowers the internal validity and reliability.

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Appendix

Figure 2

Adolescebt Body Image Satisfaction Scale Items

1. I am satisfied with my body

2. I feel people ignore me because of my looks

3. I feel good when others reassure that I look all right

 4. I am in control of my body

5. I am critical of my body

6. I respect my body (eat health, excercise, etc.)

7. My body makes me feel confidence

8. I want the “perfect” body

9. I feel connected with my body

10. I am unattractive

11. My body is weak

12. I am physically intimidated by others

13. People find me physically unattractive

14. I am comfortable with my body

15. My body makes me feel insecure

16. There is no perfect body

Figure 3

Social Comparison Scale

“Compared to others I feel…”

Inferior-superior

Incompetent-competent

Unlikeable-likeable

Left out-accepted

Different-same

Untaletend-more talented

Weaker-stronger

Unconfident- more confident

 Undesirable- more desirable

Unattractive- more attractive

Outsider- insider

Figure 4

Social Media Usage Scale

I get upset when I can’t log on to Tik Tok

I prefer to communicate with others mainly through Tik Tok

Tik Tok plays an important role in my social relationships

I would like it if everyone used Tik Tok to communicate

I feel disconnected froom friends when I have not logged into Tik Tok

I would be disappointed if I could not use Tik Tok at all

I share many of my day to day activities through Tik Tok

I check Tik Tok immediately when I am alerted of new activity on my account

On average, how many days per week do you use Tik Tok

Using Tik Tok is part of my everyday routine

I enjoy checking my Tik Tok account

I don’t like to use Tik Tok

I respond to content that others share using Tik Tok

Figure 5

Focus Group Protocol

Introduction 1. Reiterating the purpose of the study to

participants/their parents
2. Obtaining consent for the second time
a. Ask if participants are
comfortable being audio-
 recorded (include in consent
form)
3. Before starting, mention that if at any
point participants are uncomfortable,
they can leave without interruption

Questions 1. How do you feel about your body after

scrolling through Tik Tok
2. What kind of content do you consume
on Tik Tok?
3. Are you aware of what body
dissatisfaction is?
4. Have you ever experienced body
dissatisfaction or low self esteem after
watching certain Tik Tok videos?
5. Have you ever wanted to change the
way you look/your body after being on
Tik Tok?

Follow up Questions 1. Tell me more

2. I need more detail
3. Could you further explain your
answer?

Closing 1. Thank participants for joining the

study/answering your questions
2. If you need any further information
you will be contact with the parents