A Structural Model of Mobile-Based Social Media Addiction and Rejection Sensitivity with Body Dysmorphic Symptoms through the Mediating Role of Self-Compassion among University Students

Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationships among social media addiction, rejection sensitivity, and body dysmorphic symptoms through the mediating role of self-compassion among university students.

Materials and Methods: This study employed a correlational design based on structural equation modeling. The statistical population consisted of 9,000 students at Islamic Azad University, Lahijan Branch. Using convenience sampling, 384 participants were selected based on Cochran’s formula. Data were collected using the Mobile-Based Social Media Addiction Questionnaire developed by Khajeh Ahmadi et al. (2016), the Rejection Sensitivity Scale developed by Penhaligon et al. (2009), the Yale–Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale modified for Body Dysmorphic Disorder developed by Phillips et al. (1997), and Neff’s Self-Compassion Scale (2003). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27 and AMOS version 24.

Findings: The results indicated that the model including social media addiction, rejection sensitivity, and body dysmorphic symptoms through the mediating role of self-compassion had an acceptable fit. Social media addiction positively predicted self-compassion (β = 0.90), and self-compassion was positively associated with body dysmorphic symptoms (β = 0.74). Correlation results showed a strong positive relationship between social media addiction and body dysmorphic symptoms (ρ = 0.761) and a weak positive relationship between rejection sensitivity and body dysmorphic symptoms (ρ = 0.103). Self-compassion played an important mediating role, and its increase was associated with a reduction in body dysmorphic symptoms (ρ = -0.926). The direct path from social media addiction to body dysmorphic symptoms was weak and nonsignificant, whereas its indirect effect through self-compassion was substantial (β ≈ 0.67).

Conclusion: The findings suggest that self-compassion may be a key factor in reducing the negative consequences of excessive social media use and rejection sensitivity.