INFLUENCES OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON BODY IMAGE AND ACTIVE GYM LIFESTYLE: BASIS FOR ACTION PLAN

Abstract

The aim of this study is to explore the impact of social media on body image and the promotion of an active gym lifestyle among 4th-year College of Criminal Justice Education students at Bestlink College of the Philippines. The study also seeks to encourage students to adopt a positive approach to their own body image and that of others, fostering motivation to engage in an active gym lifestyle through the influence of social media. The study adopted a quantitative research design and used random sampling to select 277 students. A 4-point Likert scale questionnaire was created and distributed to gather the required data for the research. The study, with a higher participation of male respondents compared to female respondents, revealed that students' body image perceptions, gym lifestyle, and various other factors influencing them are shaped by social media and societal influences. With a mean score of 2.99, the respondents agreed that social media and external comparisons affect their views. The respondents strongly agreed with a composite mean of 3.30 that unrealistic beauty standards and the encouragement of comparison on social media contribute to negative body image. The influence of social media on physical appearance perceptions underscores its substantial impact on shaping body image ideals. The "ideal body" factor ranked the highest with a mean score of 3.30, followed by concerns regarding social pressure (mean = 3.00) and dietary habits (mean = 3.18), highlighting areas that require attention to foster a more supportive and inclusive gym environment. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that unrealistic beauty standards and the comparison of body images and gym lifestyles on social media significantly influence students. Consequently, it is recommended that students prioritize engaging in healthy routines that promote both their physical well-being and mental health.