Social Media Beauty Norms and Women’s Mental Health: A Qualitative Descriptive Study Through the Lens of Self-Discrepancy Theory

Abstract

Social media now functions as a dominant and disruptive force reshaping contemporary beauty ideals. Image-driven platforms relentlessly circulate hyper-edited visuals that redefine what counts as attractive, acceptable, or worthy. The study directly addresses this gap by examining how social media beauty standards generate emotional distress through the mechanisms outlined in Self-Discrepancy Theory and Social Comparison Theory. This research disrupts that gap by foregrounding women’s narratives and revealing the internal conflicts produced by digital beauty norms. Findings show that the relationship between social media beauty standards and women’s mental health is driven by a persistent actual ideal self-discrepancy. Participants report that constant exposure to perfected images cultivates unrealistic internal standards, triggering chronic feelings of inadequacy. Addressing this issue requires equally disruptive responses: digital literacy programs that challenge passive image consumption, platform-level transparency around edited content, and therapeutic practices that help women identify and counter self-discrepant beliefs. Together, these interventions aim to break the cycle of emotional harm and promote more critical, empowered engagement online.

 Keywords: social media, beauty standards, self-discrepancy, women’s mental health, body image, qualitative study