Skip to main content

A content analysis of thinspiration, fitspiration, and bonespiration imagery on social media.

Talbot, C. V., Gavin, J., van Steen, T. and Morey, Y., 2017. A content analysis of thinspiration, fitspiration, and bonespiration imagery on social media. Journal of Eating Disorders, 5, 40.

Full text available as:

[img]
Preview
PDF (OPEN ACCESS ARTICLE)
content analysis of thinspiration.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

400kB

Abstract

Background On social media, images such as thinspiration, fitspiration, and bonespiration, are shared to inspire certain body ideals. Previous research has demonstrated that exposure to these groups of content is associated with increased body dissatisfaction and decreased self-esteem. It is therefore important that the bodies featured within these groups of content are more fully understood so that effective interventions and preventative measures can be informed, developed, and implemented. Method A content analysis was conducted on a sample of body-focussed images with the hashtags thinspiration, fitspiration, and bonespiration from three social media platforms. Results The analyses showed that thinspiration and bonespiration content contained more thin and objectified bodies, compared to fitspiration which featured a greater prevalence of muscles and muscular bodies. In addition, bonespiration content contained more bone protrusions and fewer muscles than thinspiration content. Conclusions The findings suggest fitspiration may be a less unhealthy type of content; however, a subgroup of imagery was identified which idealised the extremely thin body type and as such this content should also be approached with caution. Future research should utilise qualitative methods to further develop understandings of the body ideals that are constructed within these groups of content and the motivations behind posting this content.

Item Type:Article
ISSN:2050-2974
Uncontrolled Keywords:eating disorders ; social media ; body image; Thinspiration, Fitspiration, Bonespiration, Social media, Content analysis
Group:Faculty of Science & Technology
ID Code:34768
Deposited By: Symplectic RT2
Deposited On:03 Nov 2020 09:57
Last Modified:14 Mar 2022 14:24

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

More statistics for this item...
Repository Staff Only -