Resilience in STEM: The Role of Well-Being Against Media’s Unrealistic Body Ideals

Despite the growing influence of social media on both professional and personal lives, there is a noticeable lack of research on media literacy related to the perception of body image. This study aims to fill that gap by exploring well-being and the factors that support it. The sample included 520 students from both STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and non-STEM fields. We utilized adapted psychometric scales to measure attitudes towards physical appearance (SATAQ), body shape dissatisfaction (BSQ), and psychological well-being (PWB). The procedure involved assessing well-being and media exposure, and completing questionnaires designed to measure the impact of media exposure. The findings revealed that both STEM and non-STEM students with higher well-being reported significantly lower negative effects from exposure to idealized body images compared to those with lower well-being. Additionally, greater self-acceptance, a stronger sense of purpose in life, and better environmental mastery were associated with a lower negative impact on body image. Comparing the groups, STEM students exhibited higher resilience to the negative effects of idealized body images. These insights highlight key protective factors critical for developing interventions and strategies for student resilience.