TY - JOUR
T1 - Examining the self-reported advantages and disadvantages of socially networking about body image and eating disorders
AU - Cavazos-Rehg, Patricia A.
AU - Fitzsimmons-Craft, Ellen E.
AU - Krauss, Melissa J.
AU - Anako, Nnenna
AU - Xu, Christine
AU - Kasson, Erin
AU - Costello, Shaina J.
AU - Wilfley, Denise E.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (R21 MH112331, R34 MH119170, and K08 MH120341) and the National Institutes of Health (K02 DA043657).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
PY - 2020/6/1
Y1 - 2020/6/1
N2 - Objective: The purpose of this study is to understand the self-reported advantages and disadvantages of socially networking about body image/eating disorders (EDs) and to examine the openness of these participants to online outreach and support for ED symptoms. Method: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with a sample of N = 598. Eligible participants were ≥15 years old, English-speaking, and U.S. residents who endorsed posting or following thin-ideal/body-image content on social media. Quantitative measures were used to assess online peer support and online interaction preferences, and to identify ED symptoms. Deductive and inductive qualitative approaches were used to analyze open-ended items about the advantages and disadvantages of social networking about thin-ideal content on social media platforms (SMPs). Results: Among those who posted about the thin-ideal on social media, 70% felt that the peer responses were positive and supportive. Participants generally favored online interaction, and a third stated that they would accept support from someone they did not know online (38%). The most common advantages noted for posting/following thin-ideal content on SMPs were motivation/encouragement to engage in a certain behavior, socializing, and information giving/seeking. The most common disadvantages mentioned for posting/following thin-ideal content on SMPs were that the content elicits negative/bad feelings, having to deal with the negative consequences/reactions of others when socially networking about this topic, and that it triggers a desire to engage in ED behaviors. Discussion: With these findings, researchers, health practitioners, and social media administrators can devise ways to reduce harmful consequences of posting/following body-image/ED content on social media.
AB - Objective: The purpose of this study is to understand the self-reported advantages and disadvantages of socially networking about body image/eating disorders (EDs) and to examine the openness of these participants to online outreach and support for ED symptoms. Method: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with a sample of N = 598. Eligible participants were ≥15 years old, English-speaking, and U.S. residents who endorsed posting or following thin-ideal/body-image content on social media. Quantitative measures were used to assess online peer support and online interaction preferences, and to identify ED symptoms. Deductive and inductive qualitative approaches were used to analyze open-ended items about the advantages and disadvantages of social networking about thin-ideal content on social media platforms (SMPs). Results: Among those who posted about the thin-ideal on social media, 70% felt that the peer responses were positive and supportive. Participants generally favored online interaction, and a third stated that they would accept support from someone they did not know online (38%). The most common advantages noted for posting/following thin-ideal content on SMPs were motivation/encouragement to engage in a certain behavior, socializing, and information giving/seeking. The most common disadvantages mentioned for posting/following thin-ideal content on SMPs were that the content elicits negative/bad feelings, having to deal with the negative consequences/reactions of others when socially networking about this topic, and that it triggers a desire to engage in ED behaviors. Discussion: With these findings, researchers, health practitioners, and social media administrators can devise ways to reduce harmful consequences of posting/following body-image/ED content on social media.
KW - body image
KW - eating disorders
KW - social media
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85084206911&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/eat.23282
DO - 10.1002/eat.23282
M3 - Article
C2 - 32359127
AN - SCOPUS:85084206911
VL - 53
SP - 852
EP - 863
JO - International Journal of Eating Disorders
JF - International Journal of Eating Disorders
SN - 0276-3478
IS - 6
ER -