Date of Award
11-7-2015
Publication Type
Master Thesis
Degree Name
M.H.K.
Department
Kinesiology
Keywords
body image, eating behaviours, eating disorders, media literacy intervention, self-esteem, social networking sites
Supervisor
Woodruff, Sara
Rights
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate associations between SNSs and body image (BI), self-esteem (SE), and eating behaviours (EBs)/eating disorders (EDs) (Study A) and to evaluate the impact of a media literacy intervention (Study B). A sample of young adults (N = 160) completed Study A and then were randomly assigned to a control or intervention group (Study B). A follow-up survey was completed (n = 78) one month after the intervention. Study A revealed that females and males spent 4.1±5.3 and 2.9±2.8 hours on SNS, respectively; with the majority of time spent lurking (i.e., looking at another users’ profile but not actually communicating with them). Furthermore, SNSs may impact internalization of beauty standards, SE, and EBs/EDs. The media literacy intervention was successful in decreasing ED symptoms/concerns. Therefore, educational tools, should be created to teach of the possible negative implications SNS usage can have.
Recommended Citation
Santarossa, Sara, "#SocialMedia: Exploring the Associations of Social Networking Sites and Body Image, Self-Esteem, Disordered Eating and/or Eating Disorders and the Impact of a Media Literacy Intervention" (2015). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 5508.
https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/etd/5508