Instagram’s Influence on Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD): A Scoping Review

ABSTRACT : Social media platforms that foreground images, filters, and editing tools have been linked to appearance-based social comparison, body dissatisfaction, and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). Instagram, as one of the largest and most image-centred platforms, has drawn increasing clinical and research interest, but there is no synthesis of this literature that currently exists. This scoping review mapped the existing peerreviewed literature on the relationship between Instagram use and BDD, in order to identify what is known, how the relationship has been studied, and where gaps in current knowledge remain. Following a five-stage PRISMA-ScR framework and its reporting guidelines, six electronic databases (Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, Wiley Online Library, Web of Science, and EBSCOhost) were searched for English-language, peerreviewed primary studies published up to August 2025. Screening was conducted independently by two reviewers. Thirteen studies (N = 7 802 participants) met the inclusion criteria. All were quantitative, surveybased studies conducted predominantly in Europe and Asia, with samples skewed toward female adolescents and young adults. Findings consistently showed a positive association between Instagram engagement; particularly appearance-focused content consumption, photo editing, filter use, and appearance-based social comparison, and elevated body dysmorphic symptoms. Appearance-based rejection sensitivity, perfectionism, and low self-esteem emerged as psychological mechanisms underlying this relationship, while body appreciation functioned as a protective factor. Instagram use appears to be associated with, and may contribute to the maintenance of, body dysmorphic symptoms, although the cross-sectional and self-report nature of the existing evidence base precludes causal conclusions. Longitudinal and qualitative research, greater inclusion of male and non-binary participants, and studies conducted outside Europe, Asia, and North America; including in South Africa, where no studies currently exist, are needed.

KEYWORDS : Instagram; body dysmorphic disorder; body image; social media; scoping review; appearance comparison