Apr 17, 2015 12:24 PM EDT By Staff Reporter, UniversityHerald Reporter

New research suggests that women diminish themselves by constantly comparing their bodies to others'.

Researchers found that regardless of how much time young women devote to viewing television, music videos and using the internet, they will compare their appearances more frequently to photos in magazines and on Facebook.

"Our research shows that spending more time reading magazines and on Facebook is associated with greater self-objectification among young women and these relationships are influenced by women's tendency to compare their appearance to others, particularly to peers on Facebook," the researchers commented.

For the study, researchers surveyed 150 female college students and staff ages 17 and 25 years old.

They also found that magazines, though significantly related to self-objectification, are infrequently read by women.

On average, the women spent about two hours a day on Facebook, accounting for 40 percent of daily internet use, and check the site every few hours.

Facebook users compare their appearance most often to their own images, then to those of their peers, and rarely to images of family members and celebrities.

The researchers discussed reasoning for this finding. For example, unlike TV and music videos, on Facebook, users can compare pictures of themselves with their peers or past images of themselves.

The researchers also note that self-comparisons may lead to greater self-objectification for women as they look at themselves literally as an observer.

"Furthermore, self-comparisons to images of a previous self might engender a greater focus on specific body parts, also contributing to self-objectification," they wrote in the study.

To help young women stop comparing themselves and promote wellness, the researchers recommend that young women post fewer images of themselves on Facebook and follow people on Facebook who post photos less frequently.

The findings are detailed in the Psychology of Women Quarterly.

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