Exploring Social Media Use and Body Dissatisfaction among Sexual Minority Women: A Qualitative Investigation

This project aims to better understand social media use and how it relates to body image (including body dissatisfaction and positive body image) among sexual minority women (e.g. lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, queer) aged between 18 and 30 years.

Focusing on the perceptions and experiences of sexual minority women, the current study will explore

a) how social media use influences body image among sexual minority women?

b) how sexual minority women negotiate body image (including potential body dissatisfaction) and appearance comparisons online? and

c) what are the perceived risk and protective factors associated with social media use for psychosocial wellbeing for sexual minority women?

This research will use individual semi-structured interviews to explore the experiences and perceptions of social media use and its links with body image for sexual minority women. As part of the interviews, participants will also be invited to share images illustrative of how they engage with and represent themselves through social media.