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Mazzeo SE, Weinstock M, Vashro TN, Henning T, Derrigo K. Mitigating Harms of Social Media for Adolescent Body Image and Eating Disorders: A Review. Psychol Res Behav Manag 2024; 17:2587-2601. [PMID: 38978847 PMCID: PMC11229793 DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s410600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Social media has negative effects on adolescent body image and disordered eating behaviors, yet adolescents are unlikely to discontinue engaging with these platforms. Thus, it is important to identify strategies that can reduce the harms of social media on adolescent mental health. This article reviews research on social media and adolescent body image, and discusses strategies to reduce risks associated with social media use. Topics covered include interventions aimed at mitigating social media's negative impacts, the body-positivity movement, and policies regulating adolescents' social media use. Overall, this review highlights specific factors (such as staffing, duration, modality, facilitator training, and cultural sensitivity) to consider when designing and implementing social media interventions targeting adolescents. This review also discusses psychosocial outcomes associated with body positivity on social media. Finally, policy efforts to reduce the negative impact of social media on adolescents' body image and eating behaviors are described. In sum, there is a strong need to conduct further research identifying optimal approaches to reduce the harms of social media for adolescent body image and eating behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne E Mazzeo
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Madison Weinstock
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | | | - Taryn Henning
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Karly Derrigo
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
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2
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Yager Z. Something, everything, and anything more than nothing: stories of school-based prevention of body image concerns and eating disorders in young people. Eat Disord 2024:1-19. [PMID: 38910350 DOI: 10.1080/10640266.2024.2364523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
Much work has been done to promote the development of positive body image in schools. This paper aims to tell some stories from the past 35 years of work in this field that illuminate important issues in developing, evaluating, and disseminating programs, and in removing policies and practices that could trigger weight stigma and body shame or disordered eating attitudes and behaviours. The need for, goals of, and approaches to body image programs, problematic activities we have 'good enough' evidence to avoid, and next steps for advocacy, research, and action are explored as we celebrate how far we've come and have hope for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zali Yager
- The Embrace Collective
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
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3
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Lozano-Muñoz N, Borrallo-Riego Á, Guerra-Martín MD. [Effectiveness of interventions to help mitigate the influence of social networks on anorexia and bulimia nervosa: a systematic review]. An Sist Sanit Navar 2024; 47:e1074. [PMID: 38626133 PMCID: PMC11095134 DOI: 10.23938/assn.1074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The study aim to analyze the impact of interventions to help mitigate the influence of social networks on anorexia and bulimia nervosa. METHODOLOGY A systematic review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO and Web of Science. The inclusion criteria were: randomized clinical trials, published between 2013 and 2023 with a score = 5 points on the Van Tulder methodological quality scale. RESULTS Eight studies were selected, most carried out in secondary education centers or universities; one was online. The study sample consisted of 5,084 participants mainly young women and adolescents with an average age between 12 and 32 years. As for the social networks, some studies described their impact at a general level, while others focused on Instagram, Facebook, Tik-Tok, Twitter, and Snapchat. A positive correlation was found between the exposure to unrealistic beauty ideals found in social networks with greater concern and dissatisfaction with body image. All studies used instruments to assess the effectiveness of the interventions. The interventions helped reduce the influence of the media and social networks, improve self-perception and self-esteem assessments, reduce anxiety levels and internalization of the thin beauty ideal, reduce dietary restrictions, and make use of social networks differently. CONCLUSIONS Longer-lasting interventions can improve body satisfaction (one year) and depressive symptoms (six months), especially in women. Interventions should include attention to self-criticism, self-perception, self-esteem, body image, nutritional management, and media literacy skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noelia Lozano-Muñoz
- Servicio Andaluz de Salud. Centro de Salud de Constantina. Sevilla. España. https://ror.org/03q4c3e69.
| | - Álvaro Borrallo-Riego
- Universidad de Sevilla. Facultad de Enfermería, Fisioterapia y Podología. Departamento de Enfermería. Sevilla. España. https://ror.org/0288vxa97.
| | - María Dolores Guerra-Martín
- Universidad de Sevilla. Facultad de Enfermería, Fisioterapia y Podología. Departamento de Enfermería. Sevilla. España. https://ror.org/0288vxa97.
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Craddock N, Budhraja M, Garbett KM, Nasution K, Gentili C, Rizkiah C, Haime Z, Ayu Saraswati L, Medise BE, White P, Diedrichs PC, Williamson H. Evaluating a school-based body image lesson in Indonesia: A randomised controlled trial. Body Image 2024; 48:101654. [PMID: 38056068 DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2023.101654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Negative body image is a common public health concern among adolescents, globally. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effectiveness, implementation fidelity, and acceptability of a single session, school-based universal body image intervention in Indonesia. A total of 1926 adolescents (59.4 % girls) and 12 school guidance counsellors (lesson facilitators) from nine state junior secondary schools in Surabaya, East Java took part in a two-arm open parallel cluster randomised controlled trial. In response to the changing circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic, half of the lessons were conducted in person and half were delivered online. Results showed that the lesson did not significantly improve adolescent body image or secondary outcomes relative to the control, though there was no evidence of harm. There were no substantive findings regarding intervention effectiveness by gender. The mode of intervention delivery (online vs. in-person) did not significantly influence the main findings. Implementation fidelity varied widely, and the lesson content and pedagogy were largely acceptable, though there was a strong preference for in-person lesson delivery. Findings have implications for researchers aiming to improve adolescent body image in low- and middle-income countries. Lessons learned can inform future school-based efforts to support adolescent body image.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Craddock
- Centre for Appearance Research, University of the West of England, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK.
| | - Mahira Budhraja
- Centre for Appearance Research, University of the West of England, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK
| | - Kirsty M Garbett
- Centre for Appearance Research, University of the West of England, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK
| | | | - Caterina Gentili
- Centre for Appearance Research, University of the West of England, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK
| | | | - Zoë Haime
- Population Health Sciences, Medical School, University of Bristol, UK
| | - L Ayu Saraswati
- University of Hawai`i, Manoa, Department of Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | | | - Paul White
- University of the West of England, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK
| | - Phillippa C Diedrichs
- Centre for Appearance Research, University of the West of England, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK
| | - Heidi Williamson
- Centre for Appearance Research, University of the West of England, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK
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de Brabandere M, Vanwesenbeeck I, Hudders L, Cauberghe V. #workoutathome: How Instructions in the Captions of Fitfluencers' Posts Impact Adolescents' Body Satisfaction and Intention to Exercise. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2024:1-15. [PMID: 38173137 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2023.2300903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
The present study examines how content of fitfluencers can be employed to improve body satisfaction and intention to exercise among adolescents. Specifically, this experimental study (N = 114 adolescents, age: 16-18) compares the effects of fitfluencer content with instructional captions that contain exercise or workout instructions (as a form of edutainment) with those of self-focused fitfluencer captions that emphasize the fitfluencer's appearance. These two types of captions are found to induce no significant differences in either body satisfaction or intention to exercise. In addition, there were no significant indirect effects via state appearance comparison or self-efficacy. The results do show that less state appearance comparisons increase body satisfaction, and that more self-efficacy increases body satisfaction and intention to exercise. The results suggest that instructions in fitfluencer captions do not differ from self-focused captions in their effects on body satisfaction and intention to exercise among adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ini Vanwesenbeeck
- Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences, Tilburg University
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Dhadly PK, Kinnear A, Bodell LP. #BoPo: Does viewing body positive TikTok content improve body satisfaction and mood? Eat Behav 2023; 50:101747. [PMID: 37263141 DOI: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2023.101747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Body positivity - often referenced on social media as "#BoPo" - encourages acceptance towards all body types, including one's own body, and challenges the societal ideal of the very thin body. The current study examined whether viewing body-positive TikTok content improves state mood and body satisfaction. Participants were female undergraduate students (N = 156) who completed an online study where they were randomly assigned to view either body-positive, body-focused, or control TikTok videos for five minutes. Before and after viewing the TikTok content, participants completed questionnaire items to assess state affect and body satisfaction alongside other variables. Mixed between-within subject ANOVAs demonstrated that participants in the body-positive condition experienced an increase in body satisfaction and a decrease in negative affect after viewing the body-positive TikTok videos. In contrast, those in the body-focused condition experienced a decline in body satisfaction and positive affect and an increase in negative affect. This study provides preliminary evidence that TikTok content may be used as a positive outlet for body image, depending on the type of content being viewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parveen K Dhadly
- Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Abbigail Kinnear
- Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lindsay P Bodell
- Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
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Zimmer-Gembeck MJ, Hawes MT, Scott DRA, Campbell MT, Webb DHJ. Adolescents’ online appearance preoccupation: A 5-year longitudinal study of the influence of peers, parents, beliefs, and disordered eating. COMPUTERS IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2022.107569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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8
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de Valle MK, Wade TD. Targeting the link between social media and eating disorder risk: A randomized controlled pilot study. Int J Eat Disord 2022; 55:1066-1078. [PMID: 35708162 DOI: 10.1002/eat.23756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a self-criticism intervention addressing the link between appearance-motivated social media use and eating disorder risk. Another condition, designed to help users curate their social media feed to reduce negative impacts on wellbeing, was also trialed as an active and credible comparison. METHOD University students aged 17-25 (N = 170) were screened and randomized (n = 130) to the self-criticism intervention, social media curation, or waitlist control group. The intervention comprised self-guided cognitive behavior therapy delivered in four modules over 1 week. Primary outcomes were feasibility and acceptability. Secondary outcomes were appearance motivations for social media use, appearance comparison, self-criticism, body image flexibility, and disordered eating (at baseline, one-week postrandomization, and two-weeks postrandomization). TRIAL REGISTRATION ACTRN12621000353897. RESULTS Participants completed an average of 82% of the intervention modules and 77% of the homework exercises within the week allocated. The intervention was well-accepted; participants reported a range of positive aspects, alongside suggested modifications to the intervention and study design to improve acceptability. Group by time interactions suggested groups changed at a different rate on three secondary outcomes; between-groups effect sizes suggested this was due to greater improvements in the self-criticism group than waitlist control. DISCUSSION This was the first study to evaluate an intervention for the link between appearance-related social media use and eating disorder risk for young adults. Positive findings relating to feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy suggest a larger randomized controlled trial, with modifications to the intervention and study design, is warranted. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE Appearance-related social media use has been linked to poorer body image and disordered eating, necessitating treatments that can disrupt this relationship. The self-criticism intervention evaluated in this study shows promise as a strategy to address this need. It is the first intervention focused on appearance-related social media use to be designed for and tested in young adults, who are at heightened risk of developing an eating disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madelaine K de Valle
- Discipline of Psychology, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Tracey D Wade
- Discipline of Psychology, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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Paxton SJ, McLean SA, Rodgers RF. "My critical filter buffers your app filter": Social media literacy as a protective factor for body image. Body Image 2022; 40:158-164. [PMID: 34968853 DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2021.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to idealized appearance images on social media is recognized as having a damaging effect on body image. Identifying and harnessing protective factors are, therefore, important research foci. Building on traditional media literacy concepts, one proposed protective factor is social media literacy, that is, the application of a critical analysis of motivations behind social media posts and the constructed, generally unrealistic nature of images, when viewing appearance-focused images on social media. This article describes theoretical models of social media literacy and current measurement approaches. In addition, it examines empirical support for a protective role for social media literacy, before considering directions for future research. It was concluded that, although there is still much that needs to be understood, there is modest preliminary support for a protective role for social media literacy, especially in girls and young women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan J Paxton
- Department of Psychology and Counselling, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne 3086, Australia.
| | - Siân A McLean
- Department of Psychology and Counselling, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne 3086, Australia
| | - Rachel F Rodgers
- APPEAR, Department of Applied Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatric Emergency & Acute Care, Lapeyronie Hospital, CHRU, Montpellier, France
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Outcomes of a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial of the SoMe Social Media Literacy Program for Improving Body Image-Related Outcomes in Adolescent Boys and Girls. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13113825. [PMID: 34836084 PMCID: PMC8674763 DOI: 10.3390/nu13113825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the negative effect of social media use among youth on body image and eating concerns has been established, few classroom-based resources that can decrease these effects through targeting social media literacy skills have been developed. This study aimed to test the efficacy of SoMe, a social media literacy body image, dieting, and wellbeing program for adolescents, through a cluster randomized controlled trial. Participants (n = 892; Mage = 12.77, SD = 0.74; range 11–15; 49.5% male) were randomized by school (n = 8) to receive either weekly SoMe (n = 483) or control sessions (lessons as usual; n = 409) over 4 weeks in their classroom. Participants completed surveys at four timepoints (baseline, 1-week post-intervention, and 6- and 12-month follow-up) assessing body dissatisfaction, dietary restraint, strategies to increase muscles (primary outcomes), self-esteem and depressive symptoms (secondary outcomes), and internalization of appearance ideals and appearance comparison (exploratory outcomes). Modest positive intervention effects were found in dietary restraint and depressive symptoms at 6-month follow-up in girls but few positive effects emerged for boys. The findings provide only preliminary support for a social media literacy intervention, but suggest the usefulness of both identifying those who benefit most from a universally delivered intervention and the need to refine the intervention to maximize intervention effects.
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