A study published in Sexuality & Culture found that undergraduate students who exhibit higher depressive symptoms are more likely to embrace behaviors associated with “raunch cultureˮ — with these effects being notably stronger among women. The study also discovered that this acceptance of raunch culture could lead to increased social media use and heighten social comparisons and, in turn, exacerbate depressive symptoms.
Raunch culture, a term that describes the widespread sexualization and objectification of women in media and society, has been a growing concern among sociologists and psychologists alike. Previous investigations into raunch culture have highlighted its potential to negatively impact women’s mental health, primarily through fostering harmful social comparisons on social media platforms.
By employing a correlational analysis, which examines the strength and direction of relationships between variables without claiming causality, the study aimed to shed light on the dynamics between raunch culture endorsement, social media habits, and mental health outcomes.
The motivation behind this research was to explore the relationship between the normalization of overtly sexual representations of women, often perpetuated by social media, and its psychological effects — particularly in terms of depression. With raunch culture becoming increasingly prevalent, the researchers wanted to understand how its endorsement might correlate with depressive symptoms, especially considering the ways in which social media is used as a platform for comparison and self-evaluation.
To investigate these relationships, the study surveyed 199 undergraduate students from a Midwestern university who were all recruited from SONA. Endorsement of raunch culture was assessed with a 21-item questionnaire, which asked participants if they engaged in behaviors such as wearing a thong bikini or speedo at the beach, posting content on or subscribing to OnlyFans, wearing fishnet tights to class, and posting promiscuous content on social media.
The participants also completed assessments of their depressive symptoms, tendencies for social comparison, and patterns of social media use. The survey allowed for a broad examination of the participants’ experiences and perceptions and provided insights into the complex interconnections among the variables of interest.
The findings revealed a significant correlation between greater depressive symptoms and acceptance of raunch culture behaviors, particularly among female students. The results found that raunch culture endorsement leads to more intensive social media use — subsequently increasing social comparisons and, consequently, depressive symptoms.
In essence, students more accepting of raunch culture were found to be more engaged in social media, which heightened their exposure to social comparisons, exacerbating depressive feelings. This suggests that raunch culture not only directly correlates with depression, but also indirectly influences it through mediated social media behaviors.
However, the studyʼs reliance on self-reported data may introduce biases, as participants could respond in ways they perceive as socially desirable. Additionally, the sample’s lack of diversity—primarily white, female undergraduates—limits the generalizability of the findings.
The study’s cross- sectional design also means that causal relationships cannot be definitively established. Still, this research offers crucial insights into the psychological implications of raunch culture in the digital age, and opens the door to further research on these dynamics across more diverse populations.
Grace Sinclair and Gage Jordan at Murray State University authored this study, published as “Generation OnlyFans: Examining the Effects of ‘Raunch Cultureʼ on Depression via Social Media Use and Social Comparisons.ˮ