Date of Award

12-2024

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Health Policy and Management

First Advisor

Dr. Rozina Karmaliani

Second Advisor

Dr. Nargis Asad

Third Advisor

Dr. Zahid Memon

Department

Community Health Sciences

Abstract

This study aims to explore the experiences and perceptions of teenagers within the age of 13-15 years, attending private schools of Karachi, Pakistan, regarding social media's impact on their body image. The research explores how teenagers use social media and how body image depictions on these platforms impact their self-perception, as well as cultural, social, and gender factors affecting this relationship. A qualitative, inductive approach was utilised, and six focus group discussions were conducted with students from high-, middle-, and low-income schools, to include diverse perspectives from both boys and girls. Story telling and narrative inquiry techniques were used to help students express their thoughts in an engaging and relatable format. Thematic analysis of the discussions was done and the results showed that social media has a significant impact on body image, with noticeable diifferences across genders and socioeconomic strata. Girls particularly felt pressured by idealized images show on social media and reported a desire to conform to societal beauty standards. Teenagers from the low-income school were more resilient to these pressures, likely due to stronger cultural values and family support. Additionally, the participants were well aware of the effects of social media on their self-image, and many recognized the need for balanced and cautious use. Based on these findings, the study suggests several strategies to mitigate the negative impact of social media use. Schools can incorporate media literacy education to help students critically evaluate online content. Families can play a vital role by engaging in open conversations with their children about social media use. Furthermore, policies advocating for parental involvement, digital wellbeing, and age-appropriate content guidelines could empower teenagers to use social media responsibly. These findings therefore have important implications for educators, parents, and policymakers as they try to address the undesirable effects of social media use on the body image of adolescents and promote positive mental health outcomes for youth in urban Pakistan.

First Page

1

Last Page

96

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