Date

4-29-2026

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)

Chair

Angela Rathkamp

Keywords

social media, Facebook, body image, body dissatisfaction, mental health, Generation X, phenomenon, body shaming, selfie, augmented reality face filters

Disciplines

Psychology

Abstract

Social media use grows worldwide daily with several available applications having both positive and negative values. Several studies found negative effects on mental health and body dissatisfaction in adolescents and young adults. Existing literature predominantly focuses on young female participants, resulting in a gap in understanding the effects of social media use across other age cohorts. This phenomenological qualitative study explored the lived experiences of Generation X adults regarding social media use and the perceived effects on body image. Additionally, this study identified themes that emerged based on the semi-structured interviews of Generation X adults. NVivo 15, a computer assistance software, was used for the identification of codes, based on the lived experiences of the Generation X adults. Additionally, the researcher produced a thematic analysis from the participants’ interviews and identified five themes from this process: passive use of social media with limited posting, limited commenting and scrolling, use of social media for maintaining relationships with friends and family, social comparison influencing photo editing and posting, body image concerns, and Generation X: privacy and low social media dependence. The findings for this research helped to gain a better understanding of how users in Generation X are influenced by social media and the negative effects on body image for those users. Furthermore, the information gained from examining previous generations can support younger generations in addressing the adverse impacts related to social media usage.

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