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The Role of Social Media in Internalizing Body Knowledge—A Cross-Sectional Study among Women with Different Food Preferences

Author

Listed:
  • Karolina Krupa-Kotara

    (Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Health Sciences in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 41-902 Bytom, Poland)

  • Mateusz Grajek

    (Department of Public Health, Department of Public Health Policy, Faculty of Health Sciences in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 41-902 Bytom, Poland)

  • Mateusz Rozmiarek

    (Department of Sports Tourism, Faculty of Physical Culture Sciences, Poznan University of Physical Education, 61-871 Poznan, Poland)

  • Ewa Malchrowicz-Mośko

    (Department of Sports Tourism, Faculty of Physical Culture Sciences, Poznan University of Physical Education, 61-871 Poznan, Poland)

  • Wiktoria Staśkiewicz

    (Department of Food Technology and Quality Evaluation, Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 41-808 Zabrze, Poland)

  • Patxi León-Guereño

    (Department of Physical Activity and Sports, Faculty of Education and Sport, University of Deusto, 48-007 San Sebastian, Spain)

  • Aitor Martínez Aguirre-Betolaza

    (Department of Physical Activity and Sports, Faculty of Education and Sport, University of Deusto, 48-007 Bilbao, Spain)

  • Arkaitz Castañeda-Babarro

    (Department of Physical Activity and Sports, Faculty of Education and Sport, University of Deusto, 48-007 Bilbao, Spain)

Abstract

Virtual spaces, such as social media, give people a platform to exchange their opinions, experiences, and knowledge. Social media’s ubiquitous usefulness has led to people relying, in whole or in part, on the information they learn online. As a result, a person’s perception of his or her own body and their self-worth has started to be influenced by what other people think of them and by the information found on social media. Modern people’s lifestyle, particularly their eating habits and exercise habits, exhibits a similar tendency. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationships occurring between factors related to the use and internalization of body image knowledge contained in social media and the factors shaping self-assessment and self-esteem in women following a vegetarian diet. An authority-validated questionnaire was used to determine the level of use and attitudes of respondents toward social media, e.g., SATAQ and BES. Associations about the potential negative impacts of the knowledge provided by social media on the development of body image and self-esteem were shown. It is interesting to observe that women who practice vegetarianism have less pressure on their appearance. This may be because vegetarianism is a lifestyle that is currently actively promoted online. Education is required on the connection between the use and internalization of social media knowledge and the development of healthy self-esteem and body evaluation.

Suggested Citation

  • Karolina Krupa-Kotara & Mateusz Grajek & Mateusz Rozmiarek & Ewa Malchrowicz-Mośko & Wiktoria Staśkiewicz & Patxi León-Guereño & Aitor Martínez Aguirre-Betolaza & Arkaitz Castañeda-Babarro, 2023. "The Role of Social Media in Internalizing Body Knowledge—A Cross-Sectional Study among Women with Different Food Preferences," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-10, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:3:p:2069-:d:1044752
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Shila Minari Hargreaves & António Raposo & Ariana Saraiva & Renata Puppin Zandonadi, 2021. "Vegetarian Diet: An Overview through the Perspective of Quality of Life Domains," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-23, April.
    2. Barbara Jiotsa & Benjamin Naccache & Mélanie Duval & Bruno Rocher & Marie Grall-Bronnec, 2021. "Social Media Use and Body Image Disorders: Association between Frequency of Comparing One’s Own Physical Appearance to That of People Being Followed on Social Media and Body Dissatisfaction and Drive ," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-14, March.
    3. Mateusz Grajek & Agnieszka Gdańska & Karolina Krupa-Kotara & Joanna Głogowska-Ligus & Joanna Kobza, 2022. "Global Self-Esteem, Physical Activity, and Body Composition Changes Following a 12-Week Dietary and Physical Activity Intervention in Older Women," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-9, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Antonia Voll & Leonardo Jost & Petra Jansen, 2023. "Heartfulness in Vegans, Vegetarians, and Omnivores," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-13, March.

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