The relationship between social media use and disordered eating in young adolescents

Wilksch, Simon; O’Shea, Anne E.; Ho, Pheobe; Byrne, Sue; Wade, Tracey D.

doi:10.1002/eat.23198

Cited by 166 publications

(123 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…eat.23263. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.23263Wilksch, S.M., O'Shea, A., Ho, P., Byrne, S., Wade, T.D., 2020. The relationship between social media use and disordered eating in young adolescents. Int.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Problematic usage of the internet and eating disorders: a multifaceted, systematic review and meta-analysis

Ioannidis¹,

Taylor²,

Holt³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Eating disorders are widespread illnesses with significant impact. There is growing concern about how those at risk of eating disorders overuse online resources to their detriment. We conducted a pre-registered systematic review and meta-analysis of studies examining Problematic Usage of the Internet (PUI) and eating disorders. The meta-analysis comprised n=32,295 participants, in which PUI was correlated with significant eating disorder psychopathology Pearson r=0.22 (s.e.=0.04, p<0.001), body dissatisfaction r=0.16 (s.e.=0.02, p<0.001), drive-for-thinness r=0.16 (s.e.=0.04, p<0.001) and dietary restraint r=0.18 (s.e.=0.03). Effects were not moderated by gender, PUI facet or study quality. Results are in support of PUI impacting significantly on vulnerable populations towards the development or maintenance of eating disorder psychopathology; males may be equally vulnerable to these potential effects. Prospective and experimental studies in the field suggest that small but significant effects exist and may have accumulative influence over time and across all age groups. Those findings are important to expand our understanding of PUI as a multifaceted concept and its impact on multiple levels of ascertainment of eating disorder psychopathology.

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confidence: 99%

Problematic usage of the internet and eating disorders: a multifaceted, systematic review and meta-analysis

Ioannidis¹,

Taylor²,

Holt³

et al. 2020

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Additionally, our findings collected from an online self‐report questionnaire are subject to social desirability bias. Our sample excludes adolescents under 15 who can be affected by EDs and/or engage in ED‐related social networking behavior (Wilksch, O'Shea, Ho, Byrne, & Wade, 2020). We also did not include different response options for transgender male patients versus transgender female patients, limiting the interpretation of our results related to this at‐risk group (Coelho et al, 2019) and representing an important consideration for more accurate gender identity descriptions in future studies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining the self‐reported advantages and disadvantages of socially networking about body image and eating disorders

Cavazos‐Rehg

Fitzsimmons‐Craft

Krauss

et al. 2020

Intl J Eating Disorders

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Objective: The purpose of this study is to understand the self-reported advantages and disadvantages of socially networking about body image/eating disorders (EDs) and to examine the openness of these participants to online outreach and support for ED symptoms. Method: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with a sample of N = 598. Eligible participants were ≥15 years old, English-speaking, and U.S. residents who endorsed posting or following thin-ideal/body-image content on social media. Quantitative measures were used to assess online peer support and online interaction preferences, and to identify ED symptoms. Deductive and inductive qualitative approaches were used to analyze open-ended items about the advantages and disadvantages of social networking about thin-ideal content on social media platforms (SMPs).Results: Among those who posted about the thin-ideal on social media, 70% felt that the peer responses were positive and supportive. Participants generally favored online interaction, and a third stated that they would accept support from someone they did not know online (38%). The most common advantages noted for posting/ following thin-ideal content on SMPs were motivation/encouragement to engage in a certain behavior, socializing, and information giving/seeking. The most common disadvantages mentioned for posting/following thin-ideal content on SMPs were that the content elicits negative/bad feelings, having to deal with the negative consequences/reactions of others when socially networking about this topic, and that it triggers a desire to engage in ED behaviors.Discussion: With these findings, researchers, health practitioners, and social media administrators can devise ways to reduce harmful consequences of posting/following body-image/ED content on social media.

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“…One difference in the quantitative data suggested that people with AN or OSFED ranked triggering messages on social media as more detrimental than did people with BED. Much has been written around the association between social media use, thin idealisation, disordered eating and eating disorders (45)(46)(47). Thin idealisation online has manifested at the present time in messages around avoiding quarantine weight gain, messages which have been suggested to be dangerous to people with EDs (18,48).…”

Section: Worsening Of Symptoms During the Pandemicmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Individuals With Eating Disorders: the Role of Emotion Regulation and Exploration of Online Treatment Experiences

Vuillier

May

Greville-Harris

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Objective: The Covid-19 pandemic has wrought disruption to everyday life and services, and emerging evidence suggests that those with eating disorders (EDs) are likely to experience marked distress and exacerbation of their symptoms. However, little is known around the most relevant factors to symptom change; whether certain emotion regulation and coping strategies are linked to better outcomes; and how people with EDs are adjusting to psychological interventions moving online. Method: In a mixed-method design, we collected qualitative and quantitative data from 207 (76 males) UK residents with self-reported ED, who described and ranked impacts of the pandemic on their symptoms. Regression analysis examined whether emotion regulation strategies were associated with self-reported symptom change, ED symptomatology, and negative emotional states. Thematic analysis explored participants’ experiences of the pandemic, particularly factors affecting their ED, coping strategies used, and experiences of psychological intervention. Results: Most participants (83.1%) reported worsening of ED symptomatology, though factors affecting symptom change differed between specific EDs. Emotion regulation, such as having fewer strategies, poorer emotional clarity, and non-acceptance of emotions, explained nearly half of the variance in emotional distress during the pandemic, and to a lesser extent also predicted ED symptomatology and symptom change. Qualitative findings indicated that difficult emotions (such as fear and uncertainty), changes to routine, confinement and unhelpful social messages were triggering for participants during the pandemic. While some participants described employing positive coping strategies (such as limiting social media exposure), many reported using ED behaviours (among other maladaptive strategies, like alcohol use) to cope with the pandemic. Finally, loss of treatment support, feeling underserving of support and experiencing a ‘detached connection’ online were further exacerbating factors for these participants. Discussion: Our results show that people with EDs have been strongly affected by the pandemic, and that while beneficial for some, online treatment may need some improvement. Our paper discusses implications for online treatment such as taking into account personal circumstances and, in a time where people have limited control over the antecedents of negative emotion, the need to develop skills to manage emotions when they arise.

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The relationship between social media use and disordered eating in young adolescents

Cited by 166 publications

References 33 publications

Problematic usage of the internet and eating disorders: a multifaceted, systematic review and meta-analysis

Problematic usage of the internet and eating disorders: a multifaceted, systematic review and meta-analysis

Examining the self‐reported advantages and disadvantages of socially networking about body image and eating disorders

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Individuals With Eating Disorders: the Role of Emotion Regulation and Exploration of Online Treatment Experiences

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