Association between Media Usage and Body Image of Elementary Students Before and After COVID-19: Focusing on Gender Comparison

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of media use on body image among elementary school students before and after COVID-19 and to explore gender differences in this relationship. Data from the Panel Study on Korean Children (PSKC), conducted by the Korea Institute of Child Care and Education (KICCE), were used for the analysis. Multiple regression analysis was conducted using data from 1,412 participants in the 12th survey (2019) and 1,397 participants in the 13th survey (2020). The independent variables were information-oriented, entertainment-oriented, and relationship-oriented media use types, while the dependent variable was body image, analyzed separately by gender. The results showed that in 2019, before the outbreak, children who consumed more relationship-oriented media were more likely to have a negative body image, while those who consumed more entertainment-oriented media were more likely to have a positive body image. However, in 2020, after the pandemic emerged, only relationship-oriented media use had an impact on body image, suggesting a correlation between increased media use and negative body image. When comparing the results by gender, the negative relationship between relationship-oriented media use and body image was found among girls in 2019, but this association was found among boys in 2020. These findings shed light on the complex relationship between media use, body image, and gender, showing that different types of media have different effects on gender in contactless and face-to-face societies. In particular, the findings suggest that relationship-oriented media work differently for different genders, providing a basis for further research to inform the direction of media literacy education for elementary school students in the post COVID-19 era and to raise awareness of the causes of gender differences.