Pasko Kristen, Arigo Danielle
Department of Psychology, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, United States.
JMIR Ment Health. 2021 Sep 15;8(9):e26204. doi: 10.2196/26204.
Information shared via social media influences college students' self-perceptions and behavior, particularly, "fitspiration" posts (ie, images of healthy food, people exercising, or fitness quotations). There are mixed findings regarding the mental health implications of fitspiration and its potential to motivate healthy behavior. Individual differences such as social comparison orientation and regulatory focus could aid in determining for whom fitspiration may be helpful versus harmful, though these characteristics have received limited attention in terms of students' fitspiration perceptions.
This cross-sectional study examined associations between students' fitspiration use (ie, intentional versus unintentional exposure while using social media), response tendencies (ie, feelings about the self and motivation to be physically active), social comparison orientation, and regulatory focus.
College students (N=344; 239/344, 69.5% women) completed an electronic survey in which they self-reported demographic information, the frequency of their social media use, exposure to fitspiration posts, typical feelings in response to fitspiration posts, and typical motivation for physical activity after viewing fitspiration posts. They also completed validated self-report measures of social comparison orientation and regulatory focus.
College students reported frequent exposure to fitspiration posts on social media and that they experienced negative feelings in response to these posts more often than positive feelings. Average motivation for physical activity was rated as feeling motivated "some of the time." However, students who reported more negative feelings after viewing fitspiration also reported greater motivation to be physically active after exposure. Associations between the frequency of intentional fitspiration use and motivation for physical activity after viewing fitspiration posts were moderated by social comparison orientation (b=-0.01, P=.03) but not by regulatory focus (b=-0.002, P=.67).
Negative feelings about the self may be motivating for students with weak social comparison orientation, as fitspiration may highlight a discrepancy between one's real and ideal self that does not prompt dejection or disengagement. However, negative feelings for prevention-focused students might not be as motivating because there are no salient negative models to avoid. Further research into these associations is warranted and could inform future efforts to promote student health and well-being during college.
通过社交媒体分享的信息会影响大学生的自我认知和行为，尤其是“健身激励”帖子（即健康食品、人们锻炼的图片或健身语录）。关于健身激励对心理健康的影响及其激励健康行为的潜力，研究结果不一。社会比较取向和调节焦点等个体差异可能有助于确定健身激励对哪些人有益，哪些人有害，不过这些特征在学生对健身激励的认知方面受到的关注有限。
这项横断面研究考察了学生对健身激励的使用（即在使用社交媒体时有意或无意接触）、反应倾向（即对自我的感受和进行体育活动的动机）、社会比较取向和调节焦点之间的关联。
大学生（N = 344；239/344，69.5%为女性）完成了一项电子调查，在调查中他们自我报告了人口统计学信息、社交媒体使用频率、接触健身激励帖子的情况、对健身激励帖子的典型感受以及查看健身激励帖子后进行体育活动的典型动机。他们还完成了经过验证的社会比较取向和调节焦点的自我报告测量。
大学生报告称经常在社交媒体上接触健身激励帖子，并且他们对这些帖子产生负面感受的频率高于正面感受。体育活动的平均动机被评为“有时”有动力。然而，那些在查看健身激励帖子后报告有更多负面感受的学生，在接触后也报告有更大的进行体育活动的动机。查看健身激励帖子后有意使用健身激励的频率与体育活动动机之间的关联受到社会比较取向的调节（b = -0.01，P = 0.03），但不受调节焦点的调节（b = -0.0
