Internalização dos ideais de beleza na adolescência: O papel das redes sociais e da autorrelação face à falha

Abstract

Adolescence is a developmental period characterized by heightened vulnerability to body image concerns, with image-based social media representing a particularly relevant context in this process. At the same time, individual self-relating processes in response to failure may influence how idealized content is interpreted and internalized. This study examined the associations between self-criticism, self-reassurance, image-focused social media use, and internalization of beauty ideals among Portuguese adolescents, while also exploring gender differences in these associations. The sample comprised 686 adolescents aged between 11 and 18 years who completed measures of self-criticism and self-reassurance, beauty ideal internalization, and social media use patterns. Correlational analyses, gender-stratified multiple linear regressions, and gender comparisons tests were conducted. Self-criticism emerged as the strongest predictor of both beauty ideal internalization and exposure to appearance-focused content in girls and boys. Self-reassurance has been found to be a negative predictor of beauty ideal internalization. Exposure to appearance-focused content made a significant independent contribution to the prediction of beauty ideal internalization, whereas average daily social media use did not. The observed associations were stronger among girls, who also reported higher levels of self-criticism and beauty ideal internalization. Overall, the findings suggest that individual self-relating processes and exposure to appearance-focused content are relevant correlates of beauty ideal internalization during adolescence.