Do the metrics matter? An experimental investigation of Instagram influencer effects on mood and body dissatisfaction

Lowe-Calverley, Emily; Grieve, Rachel

doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2020.10.003

Cited by 36 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…The first study in this regard was carried out by Brown and Tiggemann [10], who demonstrated that the exposure to Instagram images posted by attractive celebrities was related to higher levels of body dissatisfaction among female participants. A similar finding was found in a recent study by Lowe-Calverley and Grieve [11], comparing idealized images of Instagram influencers with high and low popularity metrics (e.g., "likes", number of followers). The authors found that idealized images led to greater body dissatisfaction, independent of the presence of popularity metrics.…”

Section: Social Media Influencers As Comparison Targetssupporting

confidence: 87%

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Instagram Use and Body Dissatisfaction: The Mediating Role of Upward Social Comparison with Peers and Influencers among Young Females

Pedalino

Camerini

2022

IJERPH

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Background: Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms among young females. Idealized body images shared on the platform have been associated with lower levels of body satisfaction in this population, likely due to social comparison processes. In the present study, we tested a mediation model linking Instagram use (i.e., browsing through others’ profiles, commenting on others’ looks, posting one’s own photos or stories) to body dissatisfaction (i.e., body image discrepancy and lack of body appreciation), mediated by upward social comparison with close peers, distant peers, and social media influencers. Methods: We applied structural equation modeling to self-report cross-sectional data collected from 291 female adolescents and young women (Mage = 19.8, SD = 4.6; 94.8% Italian). Results: Our final model results show that browsing on Instagram was associated with lower levels of body appreciation, fully mediated by upward social comparison with social media influencers, not close or distant peers. Commenting on others’ looks and posting own content were not associated with body dissatisfaction. Being an adolescent female (compared to a young woman) and having a higher BMI were associated with worse body appreciation. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the need for public health interventions to raise awareness about the posting practices of social media influencers and to strengthen a positive body image among young females susceptible to social comparison processes.

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Section: Social Media Influencers As Comparison Targetssupporting

confidence: 87%

“…Prior studies on the link between Instagram use and women's body dissatisfaction mainly focused on social comparison behaviors with peers [8] and specific features such as the role of "selfies" [9] or the number of "likes" [10]. Recent research also considered Instagram influencers [11], focusing on adult women.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Instagram Use and Body Dissatisfaction: The Mediating Role of Upward Social Comparison with Peers and Influencers among Young Females

Pedalino

Camerini

2022

IJERPH

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“…While celebrities have always engendered appearance-focused social comparisons for adolescent girls, SM influencers may present a particularly potent source of upward social comparisons: influencers post highly idealized images of themselves, but their appearance may feel more attainable to adolescents. Emerging evidence suggests that exposure to influencer content focused on beauty or fitness is associated with increased negative mood, anxiety, and body dissatisfaction among young adults (Kohler et al, 2020;Lowe-Calverley & Grieve, 2021).…”

Section: Aii Exposure To Images Of Celebrities and Influencersmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Perfect Storm: A Developmental–Sociocultural Framework for the Role of Social Media in Adolescent Girls’ Body Image Concerns and Mental Health

Choukas‐Bradley¹,

Roberts²,

Maheux³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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In this theoretical review paper, we provide a developmental–sociocultural framework for the role of social media (SM) in contributing to adolescent girls’ body image concerns, and in turn, depressive symptoms and disordered eating. We propose that the features of SM (e.g., idealized images of peers, quantifiable feedback) intersect with adolescent developmental factors (e.g., salience of peer relationships) and sociocultural gender socialization processes (e.g., societal over-emphasis on girls’ and women’s physical appearance) to create the “perfect storm” for exacerbating girls’ body image concerns. We argue that, ultimately, body image concerns may be a key mechanism underlying associations between adolescent girls’ SM use and mental health. In the context of proposing this framework, we provide empirical evidence for how SM may increase adolescent girls’ body image concerns through heightening their focus on: (1) other people’s physical appearance (e.g., through exposure to idealized images of peers, celebrities, and SM influencers; quantifiable indicators of approval); and (2) their own appearance (e.g., through appearance-related SM consciousness; exposure to one’s own image; encouraging over-valuing of appearance; and peer approval of photos/videos). Our framework highlights new avenues for future research on adolescent girls’ SM use and mental health, which recognize the central role of body image.

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“…Several scholars investigated the links between exposure to appearance-focused social media content and users' feelings of body dissatisfaction. A first bunk of experimental research showed that idealized appearance content from influencers, celebrities and unknown peers resulted in body and appearance dissatisfaction among (young) adult women (Brown & Tiggemann, 2016;Lowe-Calverley & Grieve, 2021;Politte-Corn & Fardouly, 2020;Tiggemann & Velissaris, 2020). Exposure to edited appearance-focused Instagram pictures also lowered adolescents' girls body image (Kleemans et al, 2018).…”

Section: Exposurementioning

confidence: 99%

Preprint - Different Interactions with Appearance-Focused Social Media Content and Adolescents’ Body Dissatisfaction: A Within-Person Perspective

Schreurs¹,

Vandenbosch²

2021

Preprint

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Social media use has often been linked to adolescents’ body dissatisfaction, but longitudinal investigations of this relation are scarce. This three-wave panel study among N = 1,032 adolescents contributes to the existing literature by testing the within-person relations between different interactions with appearance-focused social media content (i.e., exposure, liking, positively commenting and posting) and adolescents’ body dissatisfaction, measured with a current versus ideal size discrepancy figure rating scale. The results of RI-CLPM’s showed that increased posting of appearance-focused content predicted decreased body dissatisfaction four months later. Yet, this finding was not consistent across both time intervals. In addition, increased exposure predicted decreased body dissatisfaction, yet only among boys. Liking and positively commenting did not predict adolescents’ body dissatisfaction over time. These results indicate a self-affirming role of posting self-related appearance content and highlight boys’ positive agency over their social media use and body image.

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Do the metrics matter? An experimental investigation of Instagram influencer effects on mood and body dissatisfaction

Cited by 36 publications

References 19 publications

Instagram Use and Body Dissatisfaction: The Mediating Role of Upward Social Comparison with Peers and Influencers among Young Females

Instagram Use and Body Dissatisfaction: The Mediating Role of Upward Social Comparison with Peers and Influencers among Young Females

The Perfect Storm: A Developmental–Sociocultural Framework for the Role of Social Media in Adolescent Girls’ Body Image Concerns and Mental Health

Preprint - Different Interactions with Appearance-Focused Social Media Content and Adolescents’ Body Dissatisfaction: A Within-Person Perspective

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