PERCIEVED INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON BODY IMAGE AND AMONG UNIVERSITY OF BENIN UNDERGRADE ATES

I bis study investigated the perceived influence of social media on body image and eating disorders among undergraduate students of the University of Benin. Descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The population comprised 46110 undergraduate students across different faculties of the University of Benin. A sample of 100 respondents was selected using stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a structured 20-item questionnaire, validated by experts and tested for reliability using the test- retest method with a coefficient above 0.83. Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (t-test and PPMC) were used for data analysis. 1 he findings revealed that social media usage among students is considerably high, with most respondents spending several hours daily on various platforms. The results indicated a significant relationship between social media exposure and body image concerns. Prolonged engagement with appearance-focused content was associated with feelings of body dissatisfaction, low self- esteem, and the adoption of unhealthy eating behaviors such as meal skipping and restrictive dieting. The study also showed that students are aware of the influence social media has on their self-perception, though many struggle to manage its psychological impact effectively. It was concluded that social media significantly influences students’ body image perception and contributes to the development of disordered eating patterns among University of Benin undergraduates. Based on these findings, the study recommended that universities should introduce media literacy and digital wellness programs to help students critically evaluate social media content. Counselling units should also organize body positivity and self-esteem workshops to promote mental well-being and healthy lifestyle choices among students.