Beyond screen-time: Exploring how appearance-related social media consciousness shapes Chinese adolescents’ subjective well-being through individual differences in age, gender, and functionality appreciation

An increasing body of research indicates that online appearance preoccupation may adversely affect adolescents’ well-being. However, longitudinal evidence examining the relationship between appearance-related social media consciousness (ASMC) and subsequent subjective well-being (SWB) remains limited, and it is unclear how this association varies according to individual characteristics. Therefore, this longitudinal study examined the association between ASMC and SWB among adolescents, explored age and gender differences, and evaluated the moderating role of functionality appreciation (FA). A total of 1103 Chinese adolescents (50.1 % boys; baseline M_age = 14.90 years) provided data at baseline (T1) and 12 months later (T2). ASMC, SWB, and FA were measured using self-report questionnaires. Cross-lagged panel model (CLPM), multiple-group analyses, and moderation analyses were conducted. The CLPM showed that ASMC T1 was associated with lower SWB T2, with no reverse effect. This effect remained robust after controlling for social media use. Significant age group differences emerged: the association was stronger among early adolescents (12–15 years) than among mid-to-late adolescents (16–18 years); no gender differences emerged. Moreover, higher FA strengthened the negative cross-lagged association between ASMC T1 and SWB T2. These findings highlight a negative longitudinal association between ASMC and SWB, underscore the nuanced interplay between online appearance concerns and body functionality in adolescent well-being, and indicate the need for targeted interventions to mitigate these potential risks.