Testing novel social media micro-interventions for body image

Why is this research important?

The first full week of September (4-10 September 2023) marks Body Image and Eating Disorders Awareness Week (BIEDAW), a dedicated week to increase awareness of body image and eating disorders on a national scale. BIEDAW provides the opportunity for people across Australia to encourage actions that support Australians living with an eating disorder and those experiencing body image concerns.  

Fostering positive body image is a key strategy in addressing body image issues and safeguarding against the development of eating disorder symptoms [1-3]. The concept of positive body image is intricate and multifaceted, defined as a person’s capacity to regard their own body with love, respect and appreciation [4]. It is theorised that the three components of positive body image (body appreciation, body image flexibility and functionality appreciation) protect against a spectrum of eating and body image challenges. These components encourage individuals to cultivate a positive outlook toward their own bodies and divert attention away from perceived imperfections, thus preventing the occurrence of body dissatisfaction and unhealthy weight-control behaviours [4].  

Recent research indicates that engaging with body positive content on social medial platforms may help foster positive body image, particularly when contrasted with the consumption of mainstream, idealised content [5-7]. Body positive social media content deviates from the mainstream of idealised, appearance-focused content by embracing and promoting body diversity, body inclusivity and challenging harmful beauty standards [8]. When individuals engage with such content, there is the potential for them to experience more positive thoughts and emotions about their own bodies, which may in turn promote positive body image and protect against the onset of eating disorder symptoms.  

In their recent research, Fardouly and colleagues conducted a three-armed, parallel-randomised controlled trial to assess the efficacy of novel social media micro-interventions aimed at enhancing body image and mood in young women [9]. A total of 159 young women participated in the study, each assigned to one of three groups: 1) following a body positive Facebook group, 2) following an appearance-neutral Facebook group, or 3) continuing to use Facebook as usual. Participants in the body positive or appearance-neutral groups joined specific Facebook groups where the researchers posted relevant content (I.e., body positive or appearance-neutral) three times a day for a consecutive 14-day period.  

The findings revealed a notable decrease in participants’ body dissatisfaction within the body positive Facebook group (F(1, 154) = 8.78, p=0.004, np2 = 0.05) and the appearance-neutral Facebook group (F(1, 154) = 4.03, p = .047, np2 = 0.03). These reductions in body dissatisfaction persisted over time for both groups. There was no significant difference in body appreciation in any of the groups.  

While this study provides promising data to support the use of body positive or appearance-neutral social media micro-interventions, there are some important limitations to consider. First, the authors were unable to determine the specific content and posts that participants viewed during the intervention period. This includes whether they viewed the content in their allocated Facebook group and/or whether they consumed any additional body positive content. The authors reduced the likelihood of participants viewing additional body positive content on Facebook by excluding people who followed any of the most popular body positive Facebook accounts. Second, the efficacy of the social media micro-interventions was only assessed over a brief two-week period. This limited duration may not fully capture the potential cumulative effects of viewing body positive social media content over longer periods of time.  

In summary, fostering positive body image is pivotal in addressing body image concerns and preventing eating disorders. Interventions geared towards reducing body dissatisfaction and/or improving body appreciation may help to promote positive body image and prevent eating disorders. The work conducted by Fardouly and colleagues presents compelling evidence that even a limited exposure to body positive or appearance-neutral posts on social media over a brief two-week period can reduce body dissatisfaction. Considering the ubiquitous and daily influence of social media in people’s lives, the promotion of body positive or appearance-neutral content may be a cost-effective micro-intervention with potential to improve body image among young women. Moreover, it is imperative that future work and research continue to focus on the development, implementation and evaluation of social media interventions aimed at improving body image, ensuring a more comprehensive understanding of their impact and effectiveness in fostering positive body image and protecting against eating disorders.  

Authors: Jasmine Fardouly, Amy Slater, Jade Parnell, Phillippa C. Diedrichs

  
Abstract/Summary: 

Background:  Small changes to social media use could have a large impact across the population. The present study tested novel social media micro-interventions (i.e., brief content delivered in everyday life) in which young women (N = 159) were instructed to either (1) follow a body positive Facebook group, (2) follow an appearance-neutral Facebook group, or (3) use Facebook as usual.   

Methods:  Relevant content was posted to the Facebook groups three times per day for two weeks. Primary outcomes were trait body image (body dissatisfaction and appreciation) and mood, and secondary outcomes were trait self-objectification, appearance comparison tendency, and body activism. Outcomes were assessed across three timepoints: pre-test (T1), post-test (T2) after the 14-day intervention period, and follow-up (T3) 4-weeks after T2. 

Results: Participants in both the body positive and appearance-neutral conditions reported decreased body dissatisfaction from T1 to T2 (small-medium effects) and participants in the body positive condition reported decreased appearance comparisons from T1 to T2 (medium effect). There were no changes for those variables from T2 to T3. No other significant differences were found.  

Conclusion:  Viewing a small number of body positive or appearance-neutral posts on social media may be an effective inexpensive micro-intervention for improving young women’s body image. 

Access: Open access  

Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.12.008  

Citation: Fardouly J, Slater A, Parnell J, Diedrichs PC. Can following body positive or appearance-neutral facebook pages improve young women’s body image and mood? Testing novel social media micro-interventions. Body Image. 2023;44:136-47.  
 
References:  

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[9] Fardouly J, Slater A, Parnell J, Diedrichs PC. Can following body positive or appearance neutral facebook pages improve young women’s body image and mood? Testing novel social media micro-interventions. Body Image. 2023;44:136-47.