Fitspiration, Thinspiration, Body Positivity, and Body Neutrality Contents on Image-Based Social Media: Associations...

This study examined everyday exposure to fitspiration, thinspiration, body positivity, and body neutrality content on image-based social media and its associations with body image, mood, self-esteem, and disordered eating behavior using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) in women with and without eating disorders.

Women with self-reported anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa (n = 62) and women without eating disorders (n = 81) reported their social media use, mood, body image, self-esteem, appearance comparisons, and disordered eating behavior via a smartphone app for 7 days.

Viewing fitspiration and thinspiration content was significantly associated with lower happiness, higher body dissatisfaction, and lower body appreciation, but not with daily-reported restrained eating. Only thinspiration content was significantly associated with higher sadness and lower self-esteem. Upward appearance comparisons mediated the associations of exposure to fitspiration and thinspiration content with all outcomes. Except for higher body appreciation after viewing body neutrality content, there were no main effects of body positivity and body neutrality. Compared to women without eating disorders, those with self-reported anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa showed a greater reduction in self-esteem after viewing thinspiration.

The results highlight the possible detrimental effects of exposure to fitspiration and thinspiration content on mood, body image, and self-esteem in women with and without self-reported anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa alike, while only body neutrality content was related to higher body appreciation. Women with and without eating disorders should be educated about the possible negative influences of content purporting to improve one's appearance.