Investigating the relationship between social media use and the attitudes towards nutrition and body image shame among Iranian female students A cross-sectional study

Social media are Internet-based services that allow participation in online communities and exchanges. Considering the high and increasing statistics of the use of social media all over the world and its impact on people's lives, the present study aimed to determine the relationship between social media and nutritional attitudes and body image shame among Iranian female students. This cross-sectional study was performed on 201 female student of Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran from May to December 2023. Data collection was done using a paper form. Data collection tools included a questionnaire on demographic information, Jahanbani social media use questionnaire, nutrition attitude questionnaire (EAT-26), and Body Image Shame Questionnaire (BISS). SPSS software version 28 was used for the descriptive analysis of the data, to examine the relationships between the studied variables, and to measure and evaluate the accuracy of the AMOS model. Based on the reported results, the indicator of social media usage had a significant and positive direct effect on the attitude towards nutrition of students (P <.05). Additionally, social media usage had a significant and positive direct effect on the indicator of body image shame of students (P <.05). Furthermore, students' attitude towards nutrition had a significant and positive effect on the indicator of body image shame of students (P <.001). The findings underscore the need for interventions that address the negative effects of social media on young women's perceptions of their bodies and their relationship with food. By promoting media literacy, body positivity, and healthy nutritional attitudes, it is possible to mitigate the harmful effects of social media and support the well-being of young women.