The Effect of Social Media Use on Eating Behaviours

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This project aims to explore how social media use, in particular food photography, influences eating behaviours. It will be approached through three methods - a correlational experience sampling method, an experimental experience sampling method, and an experimental laboratory method. This registration describes the experimental experience sampling method.

Detailed Description
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This project aims to explore how social media use, in particular food photography, influences eating behaviours. The research question will be approached using a combination of methods. The first is the experience sampling method, where data is gathered from participants as they are going about their day-to-day lives. This method comprises two sub-sections - a correlational study, and an experimental study. This registration describes the experimental experience sampling method. The study will experimentally control participants' engagement in the act of food photography, and measure their eating behaviours. Participants will be recruited via online platforms and participate in the study for one week. At the beginning of the week, they will be required to fill in some online questionnaires (e.g. demographic information). For the rest of the week, they will be prompted at specific time points in the day via smartphone to engage in food photography/ non-food photography/ no phone use, and then answer some questions about their eating behaviours. The expected outcome of the project is to collectively evaluate the data from the various methods to conclude how social media use, and in particular the act of food photography, influences the various aspects of eating behaviours.

Official Title
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The Effect of Social Media Use on Eating Behaviours

Conditions
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Food Photography, Non-Food Photography, No Phone Use

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Food Photography
* Behavioral: Non-Food Photography
* Behavioral: No Phone Use


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Exclusion Criteria: Symptoms / history of any medical or psychiatric conditions Allergies to food products History of eating disorders Excessive exercise (≥ 5 times a week of self-reported exercise) Currently on a special diet or deliberating restricting caloric intake Currently on a weight loss program

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 49 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Food Photography<br>Participants will engage in food photography on their smart phones while eating | Behavioral: Food Photography<br>* Participants will engage in food photography on their smart phones while eating<br>|
| Experimental: Non-Food Photography<br>Participants will engage in non-food photography on their smart phones while eating | Behavioral: Non-Food Photography<br>* Participants will engage in non-food photography on their smart phones while eating<br>|
| Experimental: No Phone Use<br>Participants will not use their smart phones while eating | Behavioral: No Phone Use<br>* Participants will not use their smart phones while eating<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Enjoyment of food consumed | Self-reported rating between 1-7, where 1 is not at all and 7 is very much | 15 minutes | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Amount of food consumed | Self-reported rating between 1-7, where 1 is less than normal and 7 is more than normal | 15 minutes | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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External eating, Technology, Photography, Social media