Examining the self-reported advantages and disadvantages of socially networking about body image and eating disorders.
Open accessAbstract
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.
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A mixed methods study concluded that the #thinspiration hashtag glorified 'emaciated people' and 'bone-thin girls', promoting starvation as a lifestyle choice instead of a symptom of mental illness.
“A mixed methods study concluded that the hashtag glorified “emaciated people” and “bone-thin girls”, promoting starvation as a lifestyle choice instead of a symptom of mental illness.”
From The social media diet: A scoping review to investigate the association between social media, body image and eating disorders amongst young people (2023) · cites this paper as [48]
The Introduction (page unavailable) says social-media content can glamorize and encourage disordered eating, including through “thinspiration” material. The paper does not report a conclusion about the #thinspiration hashtag, use the quoted descriptions “emaciated people” or “bone-thin girls,” or characterize starvation as a lifestyle choice rather than a symptom of mental illness. (LLM, conf=0.82)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredA mixed-methods study found that only 3% of 499 participants with clinical/subclinical eating disorders used social media to aid recovery or as a form of treatment, and the remaining 97% indicated that it hampered recovery.
“A mixed-methods study found that only 3% of 499 participants with clinical/subclinical eating disorders used social media to aid recovery or as a form of treatment. The remaining 97% indicated that it hampered recovery”
From The social media diet: A scoping review to investigate the association between social media, body image and eating disorders amongst young people (2023) · cites this paper as [48]
The Results (Sample characteristics; Advantages of socially networking, page unavailable) report 598 participants, of whom 83.4% screened positive for a clinical or subclinical eating disorder, and say 2.90% of respondents mentioned recovery or treatment as a motivation. The Discussion (page unavailable) describes recovery-related motivation as uncommon. But the paper does not say the remaining 97% felt social media hampered recovery; its Results report several different perceived disadvantages, not a 97% recovery-harm finding. (LLM, conf=0.90)
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- Authors
- Cavazos‐Rehg, P. A., Fitzsimmons‐Craft, E. E., Krauss, M. J., Anako, N., Xu, C., Kasson, E., Costello, S. J., & Wilfley, D. E.
- Affiliations
- Washington University in St. Louis (US)
- Corresponding author
- Cavazos‐Rehg, Patricia A.
- ORCID
- Venue
- International Journal of Eating Disorders
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2020-05-02
- Volume
- 53
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 852-863
- ISSN
- 0276-3478 (ISSN-L)
- 1098-108X
- PMC
- PMC8135099
- OpenAlex
- W3023272597
- Cited by
- 30
- References
- 33
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 2
- FWCI
- 1.40
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- International Journal of Eating Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (K02 DA043657)
- National Institute of Mental Health (K08 MH120341, R21 MH112331, R34 MH119170)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies
- Keywords
- body image, eating disorders, thin ideal, social media, online peer support, social networking, digital outreach, eating disorder symptoms, social networking sites
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Feeding and Eating Disorders, Body Image, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Male, Internet, Qualitative Research, Young Adult, Self Report, Social Networking
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