The DOI matches its Crossref record; 74 of the 74 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
#bodypositivity: A content analysis of body positive accounts on Instagram
Open accessAbstract
In the last decade, the body image literature has begun to extend beyond a primary focus on body image disturbances and examine the construct of positive body image. Similarly, "Body positivity" is a growing social media trend that seeks to challenge dominant societal appearance ideals and promote acceptance and appreciation of all bodies and appearances. The present study provides a content analysis of body positive posts on Instagram. A set of 640 Instagram posts sampled from popular body positive accounts were coded for physical appearance-related attributes and central themes featured. Results showed that body positive imagery typically depicted a broad range of body sizes and appearances. Additionally, while a proportion of posts were appearance-focused, the majority of posts conveyed messages aligned with theoretical definitions of positive body image. This study clarifies body positive content on Instagram, as well as highlights points of overlap and distinction from academic principles of positive body image and other appearance-focused social media content. Accordingly, the results offer theoretical and practical implications for future research and prevention efforts.
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“For example, in cultures that prioritize communal values and collective well-being over an individual’s physical appearance, the gender gap in body dissatisfaction tends to be less pronounced.”
In the citing paper
“This cultural framework can provide a protective buffer against the negative impacts of body dissatisfaction, as the focus shifts away from individual appearance toward more holistic measures of value and identity [170].”
Citations
Cites
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The Body Appreciation Scale-2: Item refinement and psychometric evaluation
Tylka, T. L., & Wood-Barcalow, N. L. (2015) · Body Image · doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2014.09.006 · Cited by 1,298
What is and what is not positive body image? Conceptual foundations and construct definition
Tylka, T. L., & Wood-Barcalow, N. L. (2015) · Body Image · doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2015.04.001 · Cited by 1,293
“But I Like My Body”: Positive body image characteristics and a holistic model for young-adult women
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Social Media and Body Image: Recent Trends and Future Directions
Vandenbosch, L., Fardouly, J., & Tiggemann, M. (2022) · Current Opinion in Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.12.002 · Cited by 403
Cohen, R., Fardouly, J., Newton-John, T., & Slater, A. (2019) · New Media & Society · doi:10.1177/1461444819826530 · Cited by 381
Merino, M., Tornero-Aguilera, J. F., Rubio-Zarapuz, A., Villanueva-Tobaldo, C. V., Martín-Rodríguez, A., & Clemente-Suárez, V. J. (2024) · Healthcare · doi:10.3390/healthcare12141396 · Cited by 349
“This cultural framework can provide a protective buffer against the negative impacts of body dissatisfaction, as the focus shifts away from individual appearance toward more holistic measures of value and identity [170].”
BackgroundObesity Stigma: Causes, Consequences, and Potential Solutions
Westbury, S., Oyebode, O., van Rens, T., & Barber, T. M. (2023) · Current Obesity Reports · doi:10.1007/s13679-023-00495-3 · Cited by 317
Tiggemann, M., & Anderberg, I. (2020) · New Media & Society · doi:10.1177/1461444819888720 · Cited by 326
Metadata
- Authors
- Cohen, R., Irwin, L., Newton-John, T., & Slater, A.
- Affiliations
- University of Technology Sydney (AU)
- The University of Sydney (AU)
- University of the West of England (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Cohen, Rachel
- Venue
- Body Image
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2019-06
- Volume
- 29
- Pages
- 47-57
- ISSN
- 1740-1445 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2918731349
- Cited by
- 401
- References
- 74
- Citations by year
- 2026: 38 · 2025: 55 · 2024: 69 · 2023: 64 · 2022: 55 · 2021: 73 · 2020: 38 · 2019: 9
- FWCI
- 51.10
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- eprints.uwe.ac.uk
- Licence
- Locations
- Body Image (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- UWE Research Repository (UWE Bristol) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- UTS ePRESS (University of Technology Sydney) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender, Feminism, and Media
- Keywords
- body positivity, positive body image, Instagram, social media, appearance ideals, body size, body acceptance
- MeSH terms
- Body Image, Humans, Social Media
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