Evaluating associations between fitspiration and thinspiration content on Instagram and disordered-eating behaviors using ecological momentary assessment: A registered report

Negative Affect as a Mediator Between Exposure to Fitspiration and Thinspiration and Disordered Eating Behaviors: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study

OBJECTIVE

Although social media use, such as Instagram, has been associated with ED pathology, mechanisms connecting social media use to disordered eating behaviors (DEBs) remain largely unevaluated. Based on Dual Process, Tripartite, and Affect Regulation models of ED pathology, we proposed a moderated mediation model evaluating impacts of exposure to fitspiration/thinspiration on Instagram.

METHOD

We evaluated a hypothesized pathway from exposure to fitspiration/thinspiration (i.e., ED-salient content) on Instagram to disordered eating mediated by negative affect and tested individual differences in weight bias internalization, trait self-esteem, and trait self-comparison as moderators. We recruited 173 undergraduate women who reported engaging in DEBs on average at least once per week over the past 3 months. Participants completed a seven-day ecological momentary assessment protocol, during which they reported their ED-salient content exposure on Instagram, affect, and engagement in DEBs.

RESULTS

Multilevel modeling was used to assess moderated mediation. Negative affect partially mediated associations between viewing ED-salient content and subsequent engagement in objective binge eating and restricting but did not mediate the pathway to purging or excessive exercise. Higher weight bias internalization intensified the association between viewing ED-salient content and negative affect.

DISCUSSION

The association between viewing ED-salient content and engaging in objective binge eating and restricting may be a partial consequence of elevated negative affect; however, effects were small. Individuals with higher weight bias internalization may be more vulnerable to negative consequences from viewing ED-salient content. Findings suggested that reducing negative affect responses (e.g., via emotion regulation) could reduce negative consequences of viewing ED-salient content.

Weight bias internalization is positively associated with insomnia symptom severity in young women with disordered eating

OBJECTIVE

Social stigma has been associated with disparities in sleep heath; however, one type of stigma that has been less evaluated is weight bias internalization. Previous studies have shown inconsistent results linking weight bias internalization and sleep problems and few have examined associations with insomnia.

METHODS

Women with disordered eating (N = 173, Mage=20.22, SD=1.70, range=18-25) completed questionnaires measuring insomnia symptoms, weight bias internalization, alcohol use, and dysphoria. Linear regression tested associations between weight bias internalization and insomnia symptom severity, after adjusting for demographic variables, alcohol use, and dysphoria.

RESULTS

Weight bias internalization, alcohol use, and dysphoria were significantly positively associated with insomnia symptom severity above-and-beyond demographic variables.

CONCLUSIONS

Although effect sizes were small, weight bias internalization was associated with greater insomnia symptom severity. Results add to the growing literature examining the associations of stigma with sleep health.

Prospectively predicting naturalistic exposure to fitspiration and thinspiration in young women with disordered eating by leveraging an ecological momentary assessment design

OBJECTIVE

Although a growing body of research has examined the impacts of ED-salient content, such as fitspiration and thinspiration, on eating disorder (ED) symptoms, there is less known about the characteristics of who may be at risk for accessing this content on Instagram. Current research is limited by cross-sectional and retrospective designs. This prospective study used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to predict naturalistic exposure to ED-salient content on Instagram.

METHODS

Female university students with disordered eating (N = 171, Mage = 20.23, SD = 1.71, range = 18-25) completed a baseline session, followed by a seven-day EMA protocol, in which they reported on Instagram use and exposure to fitspiration and thinspiration. Mixed-effects logistical regressions were used to predict exposure to ED-salient content on Instagram from four principal components (e.g., behavioral ED symptoms and trait social comparison) controlling for duration of Instagram use (i.e., dose) and day of study.

RESULTS

Duration of use was positively associated with all types of exposure. Purging/cognitive restraint and excessive exercise/muscle building prospectively predicted access to any ED-salient content and fitspiration only. Restricting positively predicted thinspiration only access. Purging/cognitive restraint positively predicted accessing fitspiration and thinspiration (dual exposure). Day of study was negatively associated with any exposure, fitspiration only, and dual exposure.

CONCLUSIONS

Baseline ED behaviors were differentially associated with exposure to ED-salient Instagram content; however, duration of use was also a significant predictor. Limiting use of Instagram may be important for young women with disordered eating to reduce probability of encountering ED-salient content.

Effects of COVID-19 specific body positive and diet culture related social media content on body image and mood among young women

During the COVID-19 pandemic, social media content emerged that included explicit weight and shape pressure. In addition, however, body positive social media content that was pandemic-specific appeared. This study aimed to examine the effects of body positive and diet culture COVID-19 body-related social media content on the body image and mood of young women. A sample of 387 female identifying participants aged 18-25 were allocated to view one of three sets of social media images: body positive or diet related content specific to the COVID-19 pandemic, or a travel condition. Body image and mood before and after viewing the images were assessed. Trait level social media literacy and current social distancing and isolation restrictions were examined as moderators. Exposure to the body positive content was associated with improved body image and mood as compared to the diet culture content. No support was found for moderating effects although social media literacy was associated with improved body image after exposure. Findings suggest that even in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, body positive content may be helpful to body image. Further work examining inter-individual differences in the effects of social media on body image and mood are warranted.

Food for thought: Examining the relationship between low calorie density foods in Instagram feeds and disordered eating symptoms among undergraduate women

BACKGROUND

Ample studies have tested how viewing bodies on social media impacts eating disorder symptoms; however, the relationship between viewing food images on social media and disordered eating remains understudied. This study investigated whether viewing images of healthy, palatable food on Instagram impacted disordered eating attitudes across two samples of undergraduate women.

METHODS

This pre-registered online study was conducted at two sites. Participants identifying as female (study 1 n = 222; study 2 n = 214) were randomly assigned to view one of two Instagram feeds - either a feed featuring low calorie, aesthetically pleasing foods or a control condition featuring travel images. Participants completed state measures of disordered eating intentions, self-esteem, and body image before and after viewing the feeds.

RESULTS

A main effect of condition on disordered eating intentions was found at the Midwestern site, but not the Southeastern site.

CONCLUSIONS

Viewing healthy palatable food images on Instagram could increase risk for disordered eating behaviors among college females. If findings are replicated, individuals vulnerable to disordered eating may benefit from removing these types of feeds from their social media. Further research is needed to determine whether other forms of visual content on Instagram may be associated with disordered eating.

Momentary fluctuations in emotional intelligence and stress predict changes in disordered eating

Objective: Low emotional intelligence and symptoms of disordered eating are connected, however, whether daily fluctuations in emotional intelligence predict daily changes in disordered eating symptoms has not been examined, nor has stress been explored as a potential moderator of this relationship. Participants: Participants were undergraduate students (n = 100). Methods: Participants completed baseline questionnaires, then responded to random ecological momentary assessment prompts 3 times daily for 2 weeks. Results: Results indicated that when individuals had higher momentary emotional intelligence, they had lower disordered eating at the same time point (within subjects estimate = -0.30, p < .001) and following time point (within subjects estimate = -0.08, p = 0.03). Momentary stress moderated the relationship between baseline emotional intelligence and momentary disordered eating (b = -0.02, p < .01). Conclusions: Changes in emotional intelligence predict day-to-day changes in disordered eating, and stress moderates the connection between emotional intelligence and disordered eating.

Social network addiction symptoms and body dissatisfaction in young women: exploring the mediating role of awareness of appearance pressure and internalization of the thin ideal

BACKGROUND

Previous studies testing for a direct relationship between social networking sites (SNS) addiction and body dissatisfaction (BD) have yielded inconsistent results. Here, we aimed to identify underlying processes that could mediate this relationship. Specifically, we studied the relationship between SNS addiction symptoms and BD through the awareness of appearance pressures and the internalization of beauty ideals, both individually and serially: SNS addiction → Awareness → BD; SNS addiction → Internalization → BD; SNS addiction → Awareness → Internalization → BD.

METHOD

A total of 368 female undergraduates with SNS accounts completed scales to assess SNS addiction symptoms (Social Network Addiction Questionnaire), BD (Body Shape Questionnaire), awareness, and internalization (Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-4; awareness and internalization scales). A theoretical serial mediation model was constructed to examine the proposed relationships. Body mass index was included as a covariate to control the influence of this important variable.

RESULTS

The results indicated that both awareness and internalization independently mediated the relationship between SNS addiction symptoms and BD. Also, there was a significant serial mediation effect; women with more SNS addiction symptoms tended to be more aware of appearance pressure, which was associated with the internalization of beauty ideals. In turn, this internalization was positively related to BD symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings shed light on the indirect relationship between SNS addiction and BD, demonstrating independent and accumulative mediating effects of awareness and internalization.

Critical measurement issues in the assessment of social media influence on body image

Progress towards understanding how social media impacts body image hinges on the use of appropriate measurement tools and methodologies. This review provides an overview of common (qualitative, self-report survey, lab-based experiments) and emerging (momentary assessment, computational) methodological approaches to the exploration of the impact of social media on body image. The potential of these methodologies is detailed, with examples illustrating current use as well as opportunities for expansion. A key theme from our review is that each methodology has provided insights for the body image research field, yet is insufficient in isolation to fully capture the nuance and complexity of social media experiences. Thus, in consideration of gaps in methodology, we emphasise the need for big picture thinking that leverages and combines the strengths of each of these methodologies to yield a more comprehensive, nuanced, and robust picture of the positive and negative impacts of social media.