Social Appearance Anxiety and Weight Control Behaviours among Young Malaysians in Klang Valley: a Study on Xiaohongshu

Chang, Kar Kei (2025) Social Appearance Anxiety and Weight Control Behaviours among Young Malaysians in Klang Valley: a Study on Xiaohongshu. Masters thesis, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology.

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Abstract

This study investigates the phenomenon of Social Appearance Anxiety (SAA) and weight control behaviours among young Malaysians in Klang Valley, with a specific focus on Xiaohongshu (XHS) users. Prior research found that higher dissatisfaction with body image is more prevalent on image-based platforms compared to text-based ones, and has consistently linked thin-ideal images to health-related issues. XHS, in particular, has been identified as a significant source of content promoting appearance, thinness, and unrealistic body images, which are believed to exacerbate SAA and lead to various negative impacts. While global studies on SAA have predominantly focused on platforms like Facebook and Instagram within Western contexts, research on Chinese social media platforms remains limited. Moreover, the relationship between SAA and weight control behaviours has not been thoroughly examined, especially in the context of Malaysia. Therefore, this explanatory research employs a mixed-methods approach, combining survey questionnaires and in-depth interviews to analyse the association between SAA and weight control behaviours among XHS users in Malaysia. By utilising Social Comparison Theory, the study supports how XHS’s idealised images influence the body image perception of users in the Klang Valley. The upward comparisons prompted by the platform often lead to negative self-perception, as individuals struggle to match the unrealistic standards they are exposed to. With this, XHS emphasised on unrealistic beauty standards exacerbated negative self-perception and motivated weight control behaviours, including makeup routines, skincare regimens, and specific diets. For participants, the pursuit of muscularity and societal constructs of masculinity further contributed to negative self-assessment and lifestyle changes. XHS provided credible information on diet and exercise, reinforcing participants’ motivations for weight control. Peer influence and self-perception were key drivers, with social media content seen as both informative and aspirational. The findings highlighted the significant psychological impact of social media on body image and lifestyle choices, highlighting the need for increased awareness of these effects. Keywords: Social Appearance Anxiety, Social Media, Weight Control Behaviour, XiaoHongShu