A recent study conducted by Washington State University has revealed that a few words of body appreciation can help counter the negative impact of viewing objectified images of female fitness influencers. The research focused on the content shared on social media platforms, particularly Instagram, and the impact it has on the mental health of viewers, especially younger women.
The study, published in the journal Health Communication, found that idealized images of fitness influencers often lead to negative mental health outcomes. However, this negative impact can be offset by including a simple caption with a body appreciation message, such as “Love your body. See what it can do.”
According to the findings, this type of message boosts viewers’ self-compassion and appreciation of their own bodies, at least in the short term. The researchers also noted that health communicators can implement similar interventions by ensuring that young women who regularly view this type of content also come across posts that encourage positive body image.
For the study, 200 college-age women were shown manipulated Instagram posts from real fitness influencers. Some of the posts included objectified images, while others featured regular images. Each set of posts was accompanied by either body appreciation messages or no messages at all.
Objectified images typically consisted of influencers posing in revealing clothing, focusing on specific body parts. The unobjectified images still showcased influencers in tight sportswear, but the focus was on demonstrating exercises rather than purely showcasing the body.
After viewing the posts, the participants ranked their agreement to statements related to self-esteem, self-compassion, and their views towards their own bodies in the moment, as well as their long-term perception of their bodies (known as trait body appreciation).
The results indicated that the body appreciation messaging had a positive impact on participants’ self-compassion and their views towards their bodies in the moment, even when paired with objectified images. However, no significant connection was found between the messages and self-esteem or the longer-term perception of the participants’ bodies.
While the researchers did not expect a few positive statements to have a long-term impact, they still found the results encouraging, particularly due to the protective nature of self-compassion. Unlike self-esteem, which can fluctuate, self-compassion remains more stable and can provide support in difficult situations.
It is important to note that the study only captured short-term effects, and further research is needed to understand the cumulative impact, as many young women are exposed to numerous similar images on a regular basis.
The researchers hope that fitness influencers will consider incorporating body appreciation messages into their posts. However, they understand that influencers may be unlikely to reduce the number of over-idealized and sexually objectified images they share, despite previous research showing that such poses result in fewer likes.
Instead, the responsibility may lie with users of Instagram to actively assess how these posts make them feel and decide whether they are genuinely inspiring or if taking a break from them is necessary.
“Pay attention to how these posts make you feel,” advises the lead researcher. “Is it actually inspiring you? Or is this something maybe you need to take a break from?”
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- Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
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