| Autor: |
Bocci Benucci S; Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla, 3, 50134 Florence, Italy., Fioravanti G; Psychology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Via di San Salvi 12, 50135 Florence, Italy., Silvestro V; Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy., Spinelli MC; Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy., Brogioni G; Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy., Casalini A; Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy., Allegrini L; Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy., Altomare AI; Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy., Castellini G; Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy., Ricca V; Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy., Rotella F; Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy. |
| Abstrakt: |
According to the Tripartite Influence Model, social media is one of the primary sources influencing women's body dissatisfaction. However, the role of social media influencers as a potential driver for impacting users' body image evaluation when disseminating content on social networks has been little investigated. The present research aims to explore the relationship between following three Instagram influencers (i.e., nutrition, fitness, and entertainment) and eating disorder (ED) symptoms and body dissatisfaction among a group of female users. A sample of 5060 women (mean age = 35.33 ± 9.33) were recruited with the collaboration of three Italian influencers, and self-reported questionnaires were administered. Women who followed the nutritional influencer account reported significantly higher scores on ED symptoms and body dissatisfaction than women who followed the fitness and entertainment influencer accounts (η 2 = 0.05 and η 2 = 0.02, respectively). Overall, following nutrition and fitness accounts (compared to entertainment accounts) and spending more time daily on social networks positively predicts ED symptoms (β = 0.28, p < 0.001, β = 0.10, p < 0.001, β = 0.11, p < 0.001, respectively) and body dissatisfaction (β = 0.07, p < 0.001, β = 0.04, p < 0.001, β = 0.07, p < 0.001, respectively). Moreover, following nutritional influencers compared to fitness influencers positively predicts ED symptoms (β = 0.17, p < 0.001) but not body dissatisfaction. The current results suggest that being exposed to dieting and weight loss topics on social media might be particularly harmful for individuals with specific vulnerabilities. Practical implications will be discussed. |
