Identifying process related to development of body image in female adolescents users of Internet in Iran: A qualitative study

Body image is one of the primary elements constructing each person’s personality, which relies on the perception and feelings everyone has about their body. One of the influential factors affecting the evolution of body image is cyberspace. This study is aimed to investigate the influential factors on students’ body image as cyberspace users. The present research has applied a qualitative research approach, and has also examined the theoretical foundations. The research instrument was a semi-structured interview, through which 19 students aged from 8 to 13 were chosen as the sampling group via a three- staged codification process: open, central and selective process. Open codes included 49 concepts, and central codes were comprised of 9 categories as: the potentiality of being influenced by people, waning religious beliefs, lack of knowledge, the impact of extreme beautification (plastic surgery), the influence of publicity, cultural differences’ impact, the widespread usage of cyberspace, psychological factors and evolution of values. In the contemporary period, cyberspace has changed cultural norms about gender and body definition. If people follow the devised norms by cyberspace about body image, the developmental process of body image becomes more distorted.