A diary study investigating the differential impacts of Instagram content on youths’ body image

Social media, particularly Instagram, significantly impacts young adults' daily lives and identity formation. The pervasive presence of idealized bodies and lifestyles on platforms like Instagram raises concerns about their influence on body image. While existing research often focuses on the duration of social media use, this study delves into the specific types of content that trigger body image concerns. The researchers aim to qualitatively understand the connection between Instagram content and the emotional and comparative responses it evokes in young adults, recognizing that social media serves not only as a platform for sharing but also as a powerful influencer of societal ideals and self-perception. Body image, encompassing feelings, thoughts, and perceptions of one's body, is particularly vulnerable during adolescence and young adulthood, a crucial period of identity development. Prior quantitative studies have linked longer social media use to negative body image and increased social comparison. However, these studies often lack the depth needed to understand the nuances of daily interactions with diverse social media content. This study seeks to fill this gap by using a qualitative diary study approach to explore the specific content that triggers body image concerns among young adults and the associated emotional and comparative processes. The study focuses on Instagram due to its popularity and visual nature, examining the relationship between Instagram content, social comparison, and the resulting emotions influencing body image.

Existing research predominantly uses quantitative methods to explore the link between social media use and body image, frequently demonstrating a correlation between increased time spent on social media and negative body image. These studies often highlight the role of social comparison, particularly upward comparisons, where individuals compare themselves to those perceived as superior. The thin ideal, a pervasive cultural standard promoting thinness as the epitome of beauty, is often implicated in these negative associations. Studies also investigate the impact of exposure to idealized images, such as those of celebrities or influencers, on body dissatisfaction. However, a key limitation of much of the previous research is the focus on overall social media use rather than the specific content driving the observed effects. Prior work exploring the influence of gender indicates that women are often more vulnerable to the negative effects of social media on body image due to factors like self-objectification and increased engagement in appearance-related comparisons. The body positivity movement, advocating for self-acceptance and diverse body representations, offers a contrasting perspective, potentially mitigating the negative impacts of traditional beauty standards. The tripartite influence model (TIM) highlights the combined roles of family, peers, and media in shaping body image ideals and internalization processes, leading to dissatisfaction and potentially unhealthy behaviors. The current study addresses the need for a qualitative approach to understand the complex relationship between specific Instagram content and its impact on young adults' body image.

This study employed a qualitative diary study design with a target sample size of 30 participants, aiming for saturation in data collection. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling and had to meet specific criteria: frequent Instagram use (daily or at least once a day), age between 18 and 25, and English reading/writing ability. A total of 28 participants (21% male, 79% female, mean age 21.86) completed at least 90% of the diary survey. The majority were German students. Participants were asked to identify one Instagram post daily that influenced their body image, regardless of whether the influence was positive, negative, or neutral. They then completed a series of open-ended questions about the post: the reasons for selection, how they discovered it, activities performed (liking, commenting, sharing), relationship with the content creator, and the impact on their feelings of attractiveness. The data analysis used thematic analysis with an open coding approach and constant comparison to cluster and categorize the selected posts. The resulting four categories—Thin Ideal, Body Positivity, Fitness, and Lifestyle—were used to analyze the underlying motives for selection (e.g., inspiration, desire to look like the person, motivation to change, jealousy, feeling good), the type of comparison (upward or downward), and the triggered emotions. The study also assessed participants' demographics and daily Instagram usage. Data was anonymized, transferred to Excel for organization, and analyzed using thematic analysis. The coding process included a codebook with nine main codes. Supplementary materials include detailed participant data and the complete codebook.

Over five days, 140 Instagram posts were documented. Four content categories emerged: 1. **Thin Ideal:** Predominantly selected by women, these posts featured individuals conforming to the thin ideal, often in revealing clothing. Upward comparisons triggered negative emotions (stress, sadness), while downward comparisons fostered positive feelings about participants' own bodies. 2. **Body Positivity:** Also selected exclusively by women, these posts showcased diverse body types and promoted self-acceptance. Participants cited social motives (critique of unrealistic beauty standards) and personal motives (relatability, reassurance). Positive emotions resulted. 3. **Fitness:** Selected more by men, these posts depicted muscular individuals, mostly men, engaged in fitness activities. Men used upward comparisons for motivation, reporting positive emotions (inspiration). Women, however, experienced negative emotions (discouragement) from upward comparisons. 4. **Lifestyle:** Less frequently selected by both genders, these posts focused on activities and settings rather than physical appearance. This content generated neutral feelings about body image but elicited positive emotions overall. The analysis revealed gender differences in content selection and emotional responses. Content creators were most often strangers, followed by celebrities and influencers. Participants often encountered posts via their following or through Instagram suggestions. A final evaluation on day five showed increased awareness of Instagram’s influence and a more critical perspective on idealized images.

This study provides a nuanced understanding of how diverse Instagram content impacts young adults’ body image. The findings show that different content types trigger different emotional and comparative responses, highlighting the complexity of the relationship. The Thin Ideal category reinforced the negative impact of upward comparisons and the potential protective effect of downward comparisons. Body positivity content, in contrast, generated positive emotions and self-acceptance. The Fitness category showed gender differences, with men experiencing positive motivation and women feeling discouraged. Lifestyle content demonstrated the importance of context beyond physical appearance in influencing body image. These findings challenge simplistic views of social media’s impact, emphasizing the need for tailored interventions. The study's unexpected outcome was the increased self-awareness and critical perspective among participants after engaging in the diary study, suggesting the potential of self-reflective exercises to improve body image.

This qualitative diary study offers valuable insights into the complex relationship between Instagram content and youths’ body image. Different content categories elicited diverse emotional and comparative responses, highlighting the need for a nuanced understanding. Gender played a significant role in content selection and response. The study unexpectedly served as an intervention, increasing participants' self-awareness. Future research should explore individual differences, cultural variations, and the influence of social media algorithms to develop effective interventions focusing on mindful social media consumption.

The sample size, particularly the smaller number of male participants, limits the generalizability of the findings. The predominantly German and Dutch participants also raise concerns about cultural limitations. The study design, requiring daily selection of body image-related content, may have influenced participants' behavior and awareness. Future research should use more diverse samples and alternative methods (e.g., eye-tracking, data scraping) to minimize potential bias.