This research will explore the impact of digital technology, specifically social media, on the health behaviours of mothers in the postpartum period by conducting an experimental study to test the effect of social media messaging on body dissatisfaction, eating attitudes and behaviours, and physical activity intentions and behaviours among postpartum mothers. The primary objective is to determine the extent to which body image messaging targeting mothers, compared with the control, result in feelings of body dissatisfaction and poorer eating attitudes and behaviours, and increased physical activity intention immediately following the 5-day exposure period. The secondary objective is to determine the sustained impact of the body image messaging compared to control at 1-month follow-up.
The postpartum period is a critical time for both maternal and child health. Body dissatisfaction is higher during the postpartum period compared to other periods of life and is strongly associated with disordered eating behaviours. Body dissatisfaction among mothers not only effects the health of mothers but can also negatively influence the eating attitudes and behaviours of their children. Although research has shown that media images have a strong adverse influence of women's body dissatisfaction, most of this research has focused on traditional forms of media, such as magazines. Limited research has explored how messages and images on social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram, influence women's body dissatisfaction and disordered eating risk, and no studies have explored this association among mothers. This is a concern as nearly 90% of mothers use social media regularly. Thus, little is known about how the current media environment influences body dissatisfaction and eating behaviour during the postpartum period. The proposed research will address this knowledge gap by conducting an experimental study to test the effect of social media messaging on body dissatisfaction, eating attitudes and behaviours, and physical activity intentions and behaviours among postpartum mothers. The primary objective is to determine the extent to which body image messaging targeting mothers, compared with the control, result in feelings of body dissatisfaction and poorer eating attitudes and behaviours, and increased physical activity intention immediately following the 5-day exposure period. The secondary objective is to determine the sustained impact of the body image messaging compared to control at 1-month follow-up. This study will provide a much-needed understanding of the effect of digital technology on postpartum mothers' body dissatisfaction, eating attitudes and behaviours, and physical activity intentions and behaviours. Results will inform healthcare interventions, equipping clinicians with research-based evidence to support postpartum mothers in maintaining positive body image and healthy eating and physical activity attitudes and behaviours.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
132
Exposure session will consist of 15 social media "ideal body" message posts.
Exposure will consist of 15 social media posts on infant feeding tips.
University of Guelph
Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Change in Body Dissatisfaction at 5 days and 1 month
Body dissatisfaction will be measured using the body satisfaction subscale from the Multidimensional Eating Disorder Inventory, a 9-item subscale that measures satisfaction with physical appearance. This subscale includes questions such as "I think my stomach is too big". This subscale has been validated among a diverse population of women, with good internal consistency. Response options are "never", "rarely", "sometimes", "often", "usually", and "always", and are coded as 1-6 respectively. Higher scores indicate higher levels of body dissatisfaction.
Time frame: 5 days and 1 month
Change in Eating Attitude at 5 days and 1 month
Disordered eating attitudes will be measured using the validated Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), a 26 items scale that measures attitudes toward food, body, and eating. Response options for all questions are "never", "rarely", "sometimes", "often", "usually", "always" with higher scores indicating higher levels of disordered eating attitudes.
Time frame: 5 days and 1 month
Change in Eating Behaviour at 5 days and 1 month
Disordered eating behaviours will be measured using the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (DEBQ), a 24-item questionnaire with 3 subscales that measures restrained eating, emotional eating (4-item version), and external eating. This well-established questionnaire was found to have good internal consistency among each of the 3 subscales (Cronbach's Alpha 0.80 - 0.95), has been used to examine the eating behaviours of mothers,49 and postpartum mothers, and has been validated among diverse populations. The DEBQ includes questions such as "how often do you refuse food and drink offered because you are concerned about your weight?". Response options range from never to very often are assigned a score between 1 and 5. Scored are summed for each of the subscales, with higher scores indicating more restrained eating, more emotional eating, and more external eating.
Time frame: 5 days and 1 month
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