1. The Effects of Fitspiration Images on Body Image Satisfaction and Inspiration in Men
and Women
Delainie
Fink,
Jacey
Hurt,
Valerie
McGairk,
Carissa
Rouse
Ball
State
University
Festinger L. (1954). A theory of social comparison processes. Human Relations 7 (2), 117–140. doi:10.1177/001872675400700202
Meier, E. P. & Gray, J. (2014). Facebook photo activity associated with body image disturbances in adolescent girls. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 17, 199-206. http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2013.0305
Tiggemann, M. & McGill, B. (2004). The role of social comparisons in the effect of magazine advertisements on women’s mood and body dissatisfaction. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 23, 23-44. http://dx.doi.org/10.1521/jscp.23.1.23.26991
References
This study looks at the effects of Fitspiration images on the levels of healthy
lifestyle motivation, social comparison, and body image satisfaction in men and
women. Because evidence suggests social media plays a large role in body image
satisfaction, websites claiming to promote healthy lifestyle motivation should be
explored to determine if they benefit or harm viewers. Using 49 participants,
(females=34), ages 19-29, participants were randomly assigned to view Fitspiration
images or control images and directed to a survey aimed to measure the effects of
these images. Results supported the hypothesis that overall those who viewed the
Fitspiration images reported lower body image satisfaction than those who saw
control images. Results supported the hypothesis that men who viewed the
Fitspiration images reported higher levels of confidence than the women who
reported higher levels of self-consciousness and viewed Fitspiration images.
Abstract
● Factorial ANOVA’s run for all measures
● Males showed higher body image satisfaction (M= 4.58) than females (M= 3.64),
regardless of group assignment F(1, 45)= 4.71, p= .04
● Statistically significant findings for the state comparison scale were found for both
gender F(p= .01, f= 8.59, df= 1) and group assignment (p= .01, f= 6.56, df= 1)
● A statistically significant interaction was found for the confidence vs. self-
consciousness measure at the trend level (p= 0.16, f= 6.22)
● Males showed more inspiration (M= 2.20) than females (M= 1.68), regardless of
group assignment (p= .01, f= 6.60)
IntroducEon
● Experimental group- viewed 12 fitspiration images of fit individuals who had a
toned body and were usually working out or eating a healthy meal (i.e. salad), sample
image shown in Figure 2.1.
● Control group- viewed 12 neutral images of average people engaging in everyday
activities (i.e. work, cooking, shopping), sample image shown in Figure 2.2
● Participants read the informed consent statement which includes deceit, were exposed
to control or experimental images, filled out a short questionnaire, and finish with a
debriefing statement explaining the true nature of study
● Participants included 49 individuals between
the ages of 18-29 (M= 21.94) recruited via
social media and Ball State Communications.
Participants included 15 males (30.6%)
and 34 females (69.4%) and the majority
were white/caucasian (98%)
with 1 Hispanic participant (2%).
Methods
and
Materials
• Consistent with previous findings and our hypothesis, we found that males had
higher body image satisfaction than females and compared themselves less to the
individuals in the images and experimental group participants compared their
bodies to the individuals in the images more than the control group
• At the trend level, we found that males in the experimental group were slightly
more confident than males in the control group, after viewing the images.
Conversely, females in the experimental group were more self-conscious after
viewing the fitspiration images than females in the control group.
• Limitations of the current study include a small sample size, self-constructed
measures, technical difficulties with the survey distribution, and an uneven ratio
of male to female participants.
• Future studies should use reliable measures, include more participants, and
acquire and equal number of male and female participants.
• The current study has indicated that the current fitspiration trend could be
causing more damage than good, particularly among female followers.
Discussion
Results
● Sixty-two percent of the entire American adult population use Facebook and 26%,
24%, and 20% use Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter, respectively.
○ The amount of time spent engaging in “photo activity” on Facebook has been
related to body image concerns (Meier and Gray, 2014).
● Fitspiration images, or images aimed to promote a healthy lifestyle including
exercise and dieting, have recently become popular on social media sites.
○ It has been speculated that these images could be doing more harm than they had
originally planned.
● According to the Social Comparison Theory, individuals compare themselves to
these images, which may result in lower body image satisfaction (Festinger, 1954).
● The present study addressed gaps in past research by:
○ Using fitspiration images rather than advertisements or general media images
○ Comparing the effects of fitspiration images on men and women
○ Using different measures (i.e. the inspiration scale, mood perceptions scale, and
body image satisfaction scale) and specific types of inspiration
State
Appearance
Comparison
Scale
Chronbach’s alpha .92
Questions: In the past 5 minutes, to what extend did you? (on a scale of 1= never to 7= every time)
Think about your own appearance
Compare your overall appearance to that of those in the images
Compare your specific body parts to that of those in the images
Scores averaged, higher scores indicate more comparison
(Tiggeman & McGill, 2004)
Inspiration
Scale
Chronbach’s alpha .90
Modified Visual Analogue Scales (VAS)
Questions: Please slide the bar to the position on the scale that most closely resembles how you are
feeling right now (0-100, no qualifiers)
How inspired are you to adopt a healthier lifestyle?
How inspired are you to exercise right now?
How inspired are you to exercise in the future?
How inspired are you to change your eating habits?
How inspired are you to accomplish tasks?
Scores averaged, higher scores indicate more inspiration
Mood
Perceptions
Scale
Questions: 3 options- choose positive mood, negative mood or neutral
Right now I feel....
Happy vs. Sad
Encouraged vs. Discouraged
Confident vs. Self-Conscious
Inspired vs. Unmotivated
Do you think the people in the images are…
Happy vs. Sad
Encouraged vs. Discouraged
Confident vs. Self-Conscious
Inspired vs. Unmotivated
Questions scored individually 1=positive mood, 2= neutral, 3= negative mood
Body Image
Satisfaction
Scale
Chronbach’s alpha .95
Questions: Please answer the following using a scale from 1 (Not At All) to 7 (Extremely)
How satisfied are you with your current body image?
How comfortable do you feel in your own skin?
How confident do you feel with your body shape/size?
How appealing do you find yourself?
How appealing do you think others find you?
Scores averaged, higher scores indicate higher body satisfaction
Measures
Figure 2.1. Sample Fitspiration Image Figure 2.2. Sample Neutral Image
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
Male Female
←Confidence-Self-Consciousness→
Means
Confidence vs. Self-Consciousness Independent
Samples T-test Interaction
Experimental
Group
Control
Group
2.4667
3.9216
0
1
2
3
4
5
Male Female
←Lesscomparison-MoreComparison→
Means
State Appearance Comparison
Scale Means for Men versus
Women
2.6957
4.1667
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
Control Group Experimental Group
←Lesscomparison-MoreComparison→
Means
State Appearance Comparison
Scale Means for Control versus
Experimental Group