Isaac Cheng, a 2024 graduate of the PsyD in Clinical Psychology program at Antioch University’s Seattle Campus, has written and published a dissertation titled The Influence of Highly Visual Social Media Engagement on the Body Image of Cisgender Heterosexual Emerging Adult Men. A Grounded Theory Approach.
The effects of highly visual social media on the body image of users is a widespread concern amongst consumers and a popular topic of research that has mostly explored the effects of women’s body image. However, the literature on men, particularly cisgender heterosexual men, is sparse.
Cheng’s study utilizes constructivist grounded theory methodology to develop an explanatory model illustrating how highly visual social media engagement by cisgender heterosexual emerging adult men influences their body image. Data analysis revealed how specific platforms attribute a user’s behavior on a highly visual social media platform, a user’s perception of an ideal male physique, and the appearance-related content they viewed on platforms that contributed to deleterious effects on their body image. The findings of the study offer insight into an understudied demographic group comprising a large share of social media users and suggest areas of future inquiry to better delineate highly visual social media effects on men.
Cheng is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the Medical Behavioral Unit at Rady Children’s Hospital and UCSD’s Eating Disorders Center. He has worked extensively with children and adolescents struggling with serious mental illness who require treatment in hospital settings. His research interests include Asian-American issues and the effects of social media usage on individuals.
Read and download Cheng’s dissertation, The Influence of Highly Visual Social Media Engagement on the Body Image of Cisgender Heterosexual Emerging Adult Men. A Grounded Theory Approach.
