An Examination of the Effects of Different Body Image Content on Instagram
Presenter Type
UNO Graduate Student (Masters)
Major/Field of Study
Psychology
Other
Developmental Psychology
Advisor Information
Dr. Juan F. Casas
Location
MBSC Ballroom Poster # 1306 - G (Masters)
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
24-3-2023 1:00 PM
End Date
24-3-2023 2:15 PM
Abstract
Rationale: Exposure to popular media images portraying appearance ideals (e.g., thinness, muscularity) results in increased body image disturbance (e.g., body dissatisfaction). Body Positivity, which advocates for the acceptance of all body types, is an online social movement that attempts to counteract these effects. Research examining the effects of body positivity content has examined the effects of diverse body representation but neglected to examine the impact of images that convey body positivity messages through text.
Aims & Hypotheses: We aimed to expand this body of research by comparing the effects of three types of media images: appearance-ideal images, body-diverse images, and text-based body positive images). Generally, we hypothesized that exposure to appearance-ideal images would negatively impact body image while exposure to body-diverse or text-based images would positively impact body image. We also examined differences in the effects of body-diverse and text-based images.
Method: Eighty participants (73.1% women, 50% White) engaged in a deceptive, mixed-method experiment via Qualtrics over two time points. At time one, participants reported their demographics, Internet use, stress (αT1 = .86), and body image attitudes (i.e., drive for thinness, αT1= .86; drive for muscularity, αT1= .81; body dissatisfaction, αT1= .80; body appreciation, αT1= .91). At time two, participants were randomly assigned to one of four conditions (including a control condition) and were exposed to twelve images reflecting the content of their assigned condition. After exposure, participants reported their stress and body image attitudes. Hypothesis testing will be conducted using multilevel modeling (MLM) nesting various body image attitudes) within each time point, within each participant. The purpose of this analytic approach is to assess changes in body image across conditions controlling for changes in stress.
Initial Results: Preliminary findings suggest that the hypotheses were not supported. Further, some conditions experienced changes in body image attitudes in the opposite direction of the hypothesis. However, text-based posts, compared to body-diverse posts, were more likely to induce hypothesized changes in body image. Subsequent MLM analyses will be interpreted in further detail considering these mixed results.
Discussion: Lack of support for our hypotheses could be due to our sample, which had greater gender and racial diversity than comparable research studies. Women of color and men have been found to be less susceptible to media effects than White women. Future research should continue to focus on gender and racial/ethnic differences in the effects of body-based media. Implications for body positivity will also be discussed.
Scheduling
9:15-10:30 a.m., 10:45 a.m.-Noon, 1-2:15 p.m., 2:30 -3:45 p.m.
An Examination of the Effects of Different Body Image Content on Instagram
MBSC Ballroom Poster # 1306 - G (Masters)
Rationale: Exposure to popular media images portraying appearance ideals (e.g., thinness, muscularity) results in increased body image disturbance (e.g., body dissatisfaction). Body Positivity, which advocates for the acceptance of all body types, is an online social movement that attempts to counteract these effects. Research examining the effects of body positivity content has examined the effects of diverse body representation but neglected to examine the impact of images that convey body positivity messages through text.
Aims & Hypotheses: We aimed to expand this body of research by comparing the effects of three types of media images: appearance-ideal images, body-diverse images, and text-based body positive images). Generally, we hypothesized that exposure to appearance-ideal images would negatively impact body image while exposure to body-diverse or text-based images would positively impact body image. We also examined differences in the effects of body-diverse and text-based images.
Method: Eighty participants (73.1% women, 50% White) engaged in a deceptive, mixed-method experiment via Qualtrics over two time points. At time one, participants reported their demographics, Internet use, stress (αT1 = .86), and body image attitudes (i.e., drive for thinness, αT1= .86; drive for muscularity, αT1= .81; body dissatisfaction, αT1= .80; body appreciation, αT1= .91). At time two, participants were randomly assigned to one of four conditions (including a control condition) and were exposed to twelve images reflecting the content of their assigned condition. After exposure, participants reported their stress and body image attitudes. Hypothesis testing will be conducted using multilevel modeling (MLM) nesting various body image attitudes) within each time point, within each participant. The purpose of this analytic approach is to assess changes in body image across conditions controlling for changes in stress.
Initial Results: Preliminary findings suggest that the hypotheses were not supported. Further, some conditions experienced changes in body image attitudes in the opposite direction of the hypothesis. However, text-based posts, compared to body-diverse posts, were more likely to induce hypothesized changes in body image. Subsequent MLM analyses will be interpreted in further detail considering these mixed results.
Discussion: Lack of support for our hypotheses could be due to our sample, which had greater gender and racial diversity than comparable research studies. Women of color and men have been found to be less susceptible to media effects than White women. Future research should continue to focus on gender and racial/ethnic differences in the effects of body-based media. Implications for body positivity will also be discussed.