The Role of Body Image Satisfaction and Self-Awareness on Social Functioning of Female Adolescents
This study examined the role of body image satisfaction and self-awareness in shaping the social functioning of female adolescents in Nigeria. The objectives were to investigate the influence of body image satisfaction on social functioning, assess the effect of self-awareness on social functioning, determine their combined influence, and analyze differences in social functioning based on the frequency of social media use. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted, involving 300 female adolescents aged 13–18 years from SS1–SS3 classes in public and private senior secondary schools in Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria. Participants were selected using stratified random sampling and completed a structured questionnaire comprising validated scales for body image satisfaction, self-awareness, and social functioning, alongside items on demographic details and social media use frequency. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, simple linear regression, multiple linear regression, and one-way ANOVA at a 95% confidence level. Findings revealed that body image satisfaction significantly influenced social functioning (R = 0.934, R² = 0.872, p < .001), indicating that adolescents with higher body image satisfaction demonstrated better social adjustment. Similarly, self-awareness had a strong positive influence on social functioning (R = 0.959, R² = 0.920, p < .001). The combined effect of body image satisfaction and self-awareness explained 93.4% of the variance in social functioning (R² = 0.934, p < .001), demonstrating a strong synergistic impact. Additionally, there was a significant difference in social functioning based on the frequency of social media use (F (4,295) = 3953.83, p < .001), with those who used social media “very often” recording the lowest social functioning scores. The study concludes that body image satisfaction and self-awareness are critical determinants of social functioning, with their joint influence producing the highest levels of social competence.