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Journals / Ahi Evran Tıp Dergisi / 2026 / Volume: 10 Issue: 2

Determination of the Relationship Between Social Media and Eating Behaviour and Appearance in University Students

Elif Gökçe İnbaşı(NİĞDE ÖMER HALİSDEMİR ÜNİVERSİTESİ, BOR SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ FAKÜLTESİ, BESLENME VE DİYETETİK BÖLÜMÜ)0000-0001-6532-1401
Nihan Çakır Biçer(KOCAELI UNIVERSITY, INSTITUTE OF HEALTH SCIENCES, MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR GASTROENTEROLOGY)0000-0002-7581-9083
Kübra Nur Şencan(NİĞDE ÖMER HALİSDEMİR ÜNİVERSİTESİ, BOR SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ FAKÜLTESİ, BESLENME VE DİYETETİK BÖLÜMÜ)0009-0000-5953-7169
Havva Nursena Oyanık(NİĞDE ÖMER HALİSDEMİR ÜNİVERSİTESİ, BOR SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ FAKÜLTESİ, BESLENME VE DİYETETİK BÖLÜMÜ)0009-0009-9314-3943
Pages
—
Publication Date
2026-08-31
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

This indicates that the qualitative aspects of social media use may be more influential than use duration.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Purpose: This research aimed to investigate the interplay between social media use duration, dietary patterns, and appearance awareness among university students.
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Key Findings & Data:Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional investigation included 356 university students registered at Nigde Omer Halisdemir University for the 2023–2024 academic year.
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Conclusion & Impact:This indicates that the qualitative aspects of social media use may be more influential than use duration.
🔬Design:Survey & Empirical Study
📍Scope:2023–2024 Verileri
⚙️Variables:body image · social networking · feeding behavior

Abstract

Purpose: This research aimed to investigate the interplay between social media use duration, dietary patterns, and appearance awareness among university students. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional investigation included 356 university students registered at Nigde Omer Halisdemir University for the 2023–2024 academic year. Demographic data and lifestyle habits were collected via face-to-face questionnaires. The effect of social media on eating habits and body image was examined using the Scale of Effects of Social Media on Eating Behavior (SESMEB) and the Appearance-Related Social Media Consciousness Scale (ASMCS). Results: The mean age of participants was 20.51±1.64 years. Mean body mass index (BMI) was 21.42 kg/m² for females and 23.31 kg/m² for males, with a significant difference between sex (p < 0.05). Daily social media use duration averaged 253.01±165.84 minutes for males and 194.22±136.70 minutes for females (p = 0.001). The mean ASMCS score was higher in females (44.18 ± 15.38) than in males (39.59±18.90) (p = 0.018), whereas SESMEB scores didn’t differ significantly by sex (p > 0.05). No correlations were identified between social media use duration, SESMEB, and ASMCS scores (r = 0.096, p = 0.069 and r = -0.001, p = 0.990). SESMEB and ASMCS scores were also positively correlated (r = 0.182, p < 0.001). Regression analysis showed that social media use duration didn’t significantly predict SESMEB or ASMCS scores (p > 0.05). Conclusion: In this study, social media use duration did not have a significant effect on the SESMEB and ASMCS scores. However, the positive correlation between the scales suggests that social media-related eating behaviors and appearance awareness may be interconnected. This indicates that the qualitative aspects of social media use may be more influential than use duration.

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Cite This Article

İnbaşı, E. G., Biçer, N. Ç., Şencan, K. N., Oyanık, H. N. (2026). Determination of the Relationship Between Social Media and Eating Behaviour and Appearance in University Students. Ahi Evran Tıp Dergisi, Volume: 10 Issue: 2. https://doi.org/10.46332/aemj.1910858

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