Is use of social networking sites associated with young women's body dissatisfaction and disordered eating? A look at Black-White racial differences

- Social networking site (SNS) use may be associated with eating disorder development.
- More frequent Facebook use is associated with greater body dissatisfaction.
- Reassurance seeking is associated with body dissatisfaction and disordered eating.
- These associations exist for both Black and White college women.
- Maladaptive SNS use may have negative consequences regardless of race.

Maladaptive patterns of social networking site (SNS) use, such as excessive reassurance seeking, are associated with body dissatisfaction and disordered eating. However, it is unclear how these processes play out among different racial groups. This study examined racial differences in SNS use and body dissatisfaction and disordered eating. Black (n = 445) and White (n = 477) female undergraduates completed online measures of SNS use (frequency and reassurance seeking), body dissatisfaction, and disordered eating. Black women reported less body dissatisfaction, marginally less disordered eating, and less frequent Facebook use than White women; there were no race differences in SNS reassurance seeking. More frequent Facebook use was associated with more body dissatisfaction (but not disordered eating), and more SNS reassurance seeking predicted both more body dissatisfaction and disordered eating. Associations were not moderated by race, suggesting maladaptive SNS use may have negative consequences for both Black and White women.