If you and your significant other share images of yourselves across social media for the world to see, you might want to take a look at a recent study that suggests sharing selfies of you and partner might negatively impact your relationship.
420 individuals between the ages of 18 and 62 years old participated in an online questionnaire set up by researchers at Florida State University. Throughout the small study, participants were asked how many selfies they took and shared on social media as well as questions about their relationships.
The purpose of this study was to examine the predictors and consequences associated with Instagram selfie posting. Thus, this study explored whether body image satisfaction predicts Instagram selfie posting and whether Instagram selfie posting is then associated with Instagram-related conflict and negative romantic relationship outcomes.
Initial findings of the study show that self-image satisfaction was directly correlated with the amount of selfies they shared on Instagram. In short, the more selfies you post to Instagram, the worse your body image satisfaction is.
These numbers also correlated with negative relationship outcomes—the more images shared on social media, the higher likelihood the relationship had a negative outcome.
In the realm of things, this study only shows us what many already know; self-confidence goes a long way in determining the health of a relationship. The only new aspect this research draws out is the correlation between selfies shared on social media and how those who post more tend to have less success in relationships.
Of course, we’ll have to take into account the age old adage that correlation does not imply causation.
[via Independant]
Image credits: Selfie Louvre by jfgornet used under CC BY-SA 2.0
