Haywood Sharon, Diedrichs Phillippa C, Paraskeva Nicole
University of the West of England, Centre for Appearance Research, Bristol, UK.
Digit Health. 2025 Aug 3;11:20552076251361340. doi: 10.1177/20552076251361340. eCollection 2025 Jan-Dec.
Influencers have been used to deliver messaging in public health campaigns and have begun collaborating with researchers to deliver evidence-based content. Building on this approach, this study explored adolescent girls' perspectives on influencers and utilising influencers to deliver body image and mental health interventions.
A mixed-methods study was conducted with 375 UK-based girls ( = 15.39, = 1.63) to understand their experiences with influencers and their opinions about influencer-delivered body image and mental health interventions. Data were analysed quantitatively via descriptive statistics and qualitatively using inductive content analysis.
Most participants expressed likeability, credibility, authenticity, and relatability were key influencer qualities when choosing to trust an influencer, whilst their ethnicity, gender, and body size were not important. In considering intervention development, the most salient factor in trusting an influencer about body image was that the influencer shared their own experiences. Participants preferred offline body image support (47%) versus online (38%); however, just over 60% agreed that influencer-delivered body image interventions were a good idea. The content analysis generated three main categories: 'Influencer-delivered interventions would be helpful' (53.5%), encompassing the offer of support and online environment as ideal; 'influencer-delivered interventions would be unhelpful' (28.1%), including influencers are not qualified and the toxicity of the internet; and 'influencer qualities' (18.3%), such as relatability.
Overall, adolescent girls thought an influencer-driven approach could be helpful in improving their body image and mental health. Caveats included that the influencer must be trustworthy, relatable, and authentic, which could encompass self-disclosure related to their mental health.
有影响力的人已被用于在公共卫生运动中传递信息，并已开始与研究人员合作传递基于证据的内容。基于这种方法，本研究探讨了少女对有影响力的人的看法，以及利用有影响力的人来实施身体形象和心理健康干预措施。
对375名英国女孩（平均年龄=15.39岁，标准差=1.63）进行了一项混合方法研究，以了解她们与有影响力的人的经历，以及她们对有影响力的人所传递的身体形象和心理健康干预措施的看法。通过描述性统计对数据进行定量分析，并使用归纳性内容分析法进行定性分析。
大多数参与者表示，在选择信任有影响力的人时，亲和力、可信度、真实性和共鸣性是关键品质，而他们的种族、性别和体型并不重要。在考虑干预措施的制定时，信任有影响力的人关于身体形象的最突出因素是该有影响力的人分享了自己的经历。参与者更喜欢线下身体形象支持（47%）而非线上支持（38%）；然而，略超过60%的人同意由有影响力的人实施身体形象干预措施是个好主意。内容分析产生了三个主要类别：“有影响力的人实施的干预措施会有帮助”（53.5%），包括提供支持和理想的网络环境；“有影响力的人实施的干预措施会没有帮助”（28.1%），包括有影响力的人不具备资质以及网络的有害性；以及“有影响力的人的品质”（18.3%），比如共鸣性。
总体而言，少女们认为由有影响力的人推动的方法可能有助于改善她们的身体形象和心理健康。需要注意的是，有影响力的人必须值得信赖、有共鸣且真实，这可能包括与他们心理健康相关的自我披露。
