Photo Activity on Social Networking Sites and Body Dissatisfaction: The Roles of Thin-Ideal Internalization and Body Appreciation

Abstract

Objective: According to sociocultural theory, media is associated with detrimental effects on body image. Due to the popularity of social networking sites (SNS) and the prevalence of body image disturbance among young women, the association between them is worth further exploration. This study examined the relationship between photo activity on SNS and body dissatisfaction (BD) and the roles of thin-ideal internalization (TII) and body appreciation (BA) in this relation. Materials and Methods: A total of 746 Chinese female undergraduate students (mean age 20.34 ± 1.47 years) completed a questionnaire measuring SNS photo activity, TII, BD, and BA. Results: (1) Photo activity on SNS was positively associated with BD (r = 0.10, p < 0.01), and TII could mediate this relation (β = 0.07, 95% CI = [0.04, 0.10]). (2) Both the direct effect of SNS photo activity on BD (β = −0.08, p < 0.05) and the mediating effect of TII (β = −0.09, p < 0.01) were moderated by BA. Specifically, these associations were more pronounced for students with lower BA. Conclusion: People exposed to ideal photos or images can shape women’s body image perception via TII, whether in the age of traditional media or the Internet, and BA did not buffer the effect of ideal photos on internalization. Our findings could provide practical suggestions for rational photo activity on SNS and the intervention for BD.

Associations between Highly Visual Social Media Use and Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating– A Changing Landscape

“…Time spent on HVSM can lead to either real reparative exercise and changes in eating behavior or virtual body xation via sel e engagement. Extensive HVSM use worsens one's body image and lowers one's body satisfaction, thus leading to DE and orthorexia nervosa, which refers to an obsession with healthy eating, and these may evolve into ED (21). Speci cally, because the advertised female body is unattainable for most women, their discouragement, captured through negative body image and decreased body satisfaction, and tenacity to achieve the ideal body type may lead them to practice DE to bridge the gap (35).…”

“…Speci cally, the internalization of the thin/muscular idea is in uenced by the use of SM lters. Filtered photo activity is positively associated with body dissatisfaction, and thin ideal internalization may mediate this relationship (21). HVSM in uences overvaluation of weight and shape, fear of weight gain, and preoccupation with weight and shape, contributing to core ED psychopathology (19,22).…”

Fitspiration, related risks, and coping strategies: Recent trends and future directions.

“…Certain researchers emphasize the importance of implementing such programs among female college students, using infographics, lectures, and campus discussions to raise their concerns regarding the effects that fitspiration content can have on women (Rounds & Stutts, 2020); cultivating college women’s body appreciation to prevent disordered eating by encouraging their internal qualities rather than external characteristics such as appearance and weight (Yao et al, 2021). Others suggest it is essential to adapt media literacy programs for men (Tiggemann et al, 2020); or both men and women (Ahadzadeh et al, 2022; Duan et al, 2022), particularly considering that male and female populations possess specific needs in relation to the differing effects of fitspiration exposure (Tamplin et al, 2018).…”

“…A considerable number of studies focus on the fitspiration phenomenon and its impact in the United States (Arigo et al, 2021; DiBisceglie & Arigo, 2021; Pasko & Arigo, 2021; Pilot & Stutts, 2022; Rounds & Stutts, 2020), Australia (Prichard et al, 2020; Pryde & Prichard, 2022; Reade, 2021; Seekis et al, 2020; Tiggemann et al, 2020; Yee et al, 2020), Canada (Dignard & Jarry, 2021), and European countries, such as the United Kingdom (Bell, 2021; Limniou et al, 2021; Nazarali & Majumdar, 2020) and Italy (Fioravanti et al, 2021). Only a very few studies shed light on non-Western regions, such as Russia (Lepesheva & Kholmogorova, 2021), China (Duan et al, 2022; Wang et al, 2021; Yao et al, 2021), Malaysia (Ahadzadeh et al, 2022), and Iran (Rafati et al, 2021), or indicate a multicultural focus (Cataldo et al, 2021).…”

“…Additionally, while current research shows a common interest in fitspiration effects from Instagram, few alternative SNS platforms have been sufficiently investigated, such as TikTok, a popular video-sharing platform (Pryde & Prichard, 2022); WeChat, the world’s largest standalone mobile app, Chinese instant social media app (Duan et al, 2022); and Reddit, an American assembling website of social news aggregation, content rating, and discussion (Opitz et al, 2022).…”