Navigation
#ForYou? the impact of pro-ana TikTok content on body image dissatisfaction and internalisation of societal beauty standards.
Videos promoting disordered eating practices and body image issues are widely shared on TikTok. However, there is limited research on how TikTok content affects body image and eating behavior. Through examining the impacts of pro-anorexic TikTok material on young women’s body image and on beauty standards internalization, as well as the possible links between daily TikTok usage and the emergence of disordered dietary habits, this study by Blackburn & Hogg (2024) sought to close this research gap. The study examined body image and the internalization of beauty standards in connection to pro-anorexic TikTok material using an experimental and cross-sectional approach. Additionally, the research assessed the relationship between time spent on TikTok and the potential development of orthorexia nervosa. A sample of 273 women between the ages of 18 and 28 were exposed to either neutral or pro-anorexia TikTok material. Measures of internalization of beauty standards and body image were gathered both before and after the exam. Based on their average daily TikTok usage, participants were split up into four groups, revealing that the greatest decline in body image satisfaction and the biggest rise in internalizing social beauty standards were observed in women who were exposed to pro-anorexia information. A reduction in body image satisfaction was also observed in participants exposed to neutral information. In comparison to low and moderate daily TikTok users, high and severe users showed greater levels of disordered eating behavior on the EAT-26 scale; however, this difference was not statistically significant when it came to orthorexic behaviors. The results draw attention to the possible mental health risks for young female TikTok users, where consuming pro-anorexic content has led to immediate negative impact on body image satisfaction and the internalization of beauty standards, which, according to the authors, may raise the odds of developing disordered eating beliefs and behaviors. [NPID: TikTok, pro-anorexia content, body image, beauty standards, disordered eating, orthorexia nervosa, eating behaviors, social media]
Year: 2024
