Body talk on social networking sites and restrained eating among adolescents: A test of a multiple mediation model

Positive body talk in mother-daughter dyads

Speaking disparagingly about one's body (negative body talk) is frequently associated with deleterious psychological outcomes. Less is known about the occurrence and correlates of positive body talk, including potentially adaptive attitudes and behaviors. As this kind of body talk often occurs in the context of family relationships, such as mother-daughter dyads, understanding the interplay between individuals is especially important. The present study examined how mothers' and daughters' body talk is related to body image and eating behavior in both themselves and each other. College women and their mothers (N = 130 dyads) reported about their family body talk as well as eating pathology, intuitive eating, and body appreciation. Actor-partner interdependence models (APIM) were used to test the hypotheses that 1) engaging in negative body talk is associated with poorer outcomes (e.g., less body appreciation) in oneself and the opposite dyad member, and 2) engaging in positive body talk is associated with adaptive outcomes (e.g., greater body appreciation) in oneself and the opposite dyad member. Mothers' age and mothers' and daughters' BMI were included as covariates. Hypotheses were only partially supported. Negative body talk was associated with poorer outcomes in oneself, but mothers' negative body talk was not associated with daughters' eating pathology or body appreciation. Similarly, positive body talk was related to both greater intuitive eating and body appreciation in oneself but was not related to eating pathology in either dyad member.

Appearance comparison on social networking sites and body shame: The role of negative body talk and perceived sociocultural influences on body image

Social media platforms play a significant role in the lives of young people. While the usage of these platforms has grown, research exploring the challenges of body image remains limited. This study investigated whether initiating negative body talk functioned as an indirect pathway between appearance comparison on social media and body shame and whether perceived sociocultural influences from parents, friends, and media on body image moderated this indirect effect. An online cross-sectional survey of 795 Chinese college students (Mage = 20.17, SD = 1.65; 60% female, 40% male) was conducted. Negative body talk was a partial indirect pathway in the association, and this indirect effect was significant among those experiencing higher sociocultural pressures from all three sources. This study highlights the need for health psychology in understanding and addressing the mental health consequences associated with digital media and sociocultural influences on body image perception.

"I Want to Hold an Umbrella Over You Because I Have Been in the Rain": Exploring Patient Influencers' Motivations to Share Eating Disorders Experiences from a Self-Determination Theory Perspective

Patients can become educator-influencers in promoting the public's understanding of health and illness; however, the underlying motivations driving their engagement in this role remain unclear. Drawing from the Self-Determination Theory, this study explores the motivations of patients-turned-influencers in sharing eating disorders (ED) experiences and information on Chinese social media. Through semi-structured interviews with 33 patient influencers, this study examines the motivations associated with three psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. In terms of autonomy, influencers shared their ED experiences as self-therapy, expression, and documentation of personal growth. Regarding competence, influencers felt that their medical training or personal experiences made them more knowledgeable about ED, and their communication skills and high self-esteem gave them more confidence and courage to share their ED experiences. Finally, in terms of relatedness, altruism, community building, and peer influence are the driving forces behind their sharing behaviors. With the rise of ED cases in China, misunderstandings about the condition remain prevalent. As the first study of ED social media influencers in a Chinese context, this research highlights the unique cultural and social factors influencing the motivations behind sharing ED-related experiences on social media. The theoretical and practical implications of the study are also discussed.