(PS14-17) The Mirage of Perfection: Revealing the Impact of Ai-generated Images on Body Satisfaction

With the ever-growing presence of social media, there also comes an impending threat of harm due to the proliferation of content generated by artificial intelligence (AI). Artificially generated images represent an inherently unachievable standard of beauty and therefore may pose a greater risk to viewers than unedited images. Past research has shown that viewing manipulated images is associated with poor self-esteem and worse body image outcomes. However, there is little research examining how viewing AI-generated images impacts the mental health outcomes of its viewers. The goal of the present study was to examine the effect of viewing AI-generated images of content creators on body satisfaction among adult females. One hundred and forty-eight participants (M_age = 37.53; M_BMI = 27.20) who identified as regular social media users were recruited from the online data collection website “Prolific”. Participants completed two measures of body satisfaction: the Body Image States Scale (BISS) and the Visual Analogue Scales (VAS). Both measures were given pre and post exposure to the AI-generated images. Paired samples t-tests showed a significant difference in body image satisfaction on the BISS from pre (M=26.53) to post exposure (M=25.80), t(147)=2.40, p=.018, d=.20. Scores on the VAS questions also indicated a significant difference from before (M=44.43) and after participants interacted with the AI-generated selfies (M=40.29), t(144)=4.84, p< .001, d=.40. Results indicated that body image satisfaction worsened after viewing AI-generated images, consistent with findings from prior research involving photoshop. Collectively, these results underscore the risk of viewing manipulated images on body image, which is associated with an increased risk for eating disorders and other mental health concerns like depression and anxiety. This study is the first of its kind, providing a significant contribution to understanding the relationships between AI-generated images and body satisfaction in the modern day. By shedding light on these dynamics, our research aims to inform responsible practices when viewing AI-generated content, supporting efforts towards creating legislation to inform consumers of the content they are viewing.