title: The mediating effect of self-esteem, depression and anxiety between satisfaction with body appearance and problematic internet use.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Given that dissatisfaction with bodily appearance can sometimes lead to the avoidance of personal contacts and the increase of internet use, this study examines this relationship. The direct role of dissatisfaction with bodily appearance along with the possible mediation effects of depression, anxiety and self-esteem were tested.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 694 participants completed an online questionnaire (58.5% male, mean age 21.5 years), containing measures on problematic internet use, depression and anxiety symptoms, self-esteem and satisfaction with body image. Path analyses were used to test direct and indirect effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Satisfaction with body appearance had a significant negative direct effect on problematic internet use among both sexes. Though, satisfaction with body appearance had a positive effect on self-esteem and negative on anxiety, neither self-esteem nor anxiety had a direct significant effect on problematic internet use. The effect of dissatisfaction with body appearance was mediated via the self-esteem-depression path toward problematic internet use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dissatisfaction with physical appearance seems to have a significant role in individuals' immersing themselves in internet use.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Eotvos Lorand University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Beatrix
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Koronczai
authors.forename: Gyöngyi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kökönyei
authors.forename: Róbert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Urbán
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kun
authors.forename: Orsolya
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pápay
authors.forename: Katalin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagygyörgy
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Griffiths
authors.forename: Zsolt
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Demetrovics
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000523:psychology*; D001828:Body Image; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires