Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://hdl.handle.net/2440/113915
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Type: | Journal article |
Title: | "fitspiration" on social media: a content analysis of gendered images |
Author: | Carrotte, E.R. Prichard, I. Lim, M.S.C. |
Citation: | Journal of Medical Internet Research, 2017; 19(3):e95-1-e95-14 |
Publisher: | JMIR Publications |
Issue Date: | 2017 |
ISSN: | 1438-8871 1438-8871 |
Statement of Responsibility: | Elise Rose Carrotte, Ivanka Prichard, Megan Su Cheng Lim |
Abstract: | Background: “Fitspiration” (also known as “fitspo”) aims to inspire individuals to exercise and be healthy, but emerging research indicates exposure can negatively impact female body image. Fitspiration is frequently accessed on social media; however, it is currently unclear the degree to which messages about body image and exercise differ by gender of the subject. Objective: The aim of our study was to conduct a content analysis to identify the characteristics of fitspiration content posted across social media and whether this differs according to subject gender. Methods: Content tagged with #fitspo across Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr was extracted over a composite 30-minute period. All posts were analyzed by 2 independent coders according to a codebook. Results: Of the 415/476 (87.2%) relevant posts extracted, most posts were on Instagram (360/415, 86.8%). Most posts (308/415, 74.2%) related thematically to exercise, and 81/415 (19.6%) related thematically to food. In total, 151 (36.4%) posts depicted only female subjects and 114/415 (27.5%) depicted only male subjects. Female subjects were typically thin but toned; male subjects were often muscular or hypermuscular. Within the images, female subjects were significantly more likely to be aged under 25 years (P<.001) than the male subjects, to have their full body visible (P=.001), and to have their buttocks emphasized (P<.001). Male subjects were more likely to have their face visible in the post (P=.005) than the female subjects. Female subjects were more likely to be sexualized than the male subjects (P=.002). Conclusions: Female #fitspo subjects typically adhered to the thin or athletic ideal, and male subjects typically adhered to the muscular ideal. Future research and interventional efforts should consider the potential objectifying messages in fitspiration, as it relates to both female and male body image. |
Keywords: | Exercise Gender Identity Body Image Physical Fitness Social Media |
Rights: | ©Elise Rose Carrotte, Ivanka Prichard, Megan Su Cheng Lim. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (http://www.jmir.org), 29.03.2017. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work, first published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, is properly cited. The complete bibliographic information, a link to the original publication on http://www.jmir.org/, as well as this copyright and license information must be included. |
DOI: | 10.2196/jmir.6368 |
Published version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/jmir.6368 |
Appears in Collections: | Aurora harvest 3 Computer Science publications |
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hdl_113915.pdf | Published version | 1.4 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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