The Effect of Social Media 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 laboratory 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. The second approach is the experimental laboratory method, where participants will be randomly assigned to different conditions while given the opportunity to eat. This registration describes the experimental laboratory method. Upon arrival at the lab, participants will first be required to fill in some online questionnaires (e.g. demographic information, mood rating scales). They will then be randomised to one of two conditions - to engage in food photography, or to engage in non-food photography - while eating some food and completing some rating scales. These photos will be taken with the intention of sharing on social media. Participants will then fill in some more online questionnaires, before leaving the lab. After the session, the amount of food consumed by the participants will be weighed. As a control, all participants will be required to come back to the lab for a second visit one week later, where they will all complete the same eating and rating task, but without any phone use. 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 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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Inclusion Criteria: - Instagram user Exclusion Criteria: Symptoms / history of any medical or psychiatric conditions Allergies to food products History of eating disorders BMI: <18/ >28 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: 25 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>On the first visit, participants will engage in food photography on their smart phones while eating. On the second visit, participants will not use their smart phones while eating. | Behavioral: Food Photography<br>* Participants will engage in food photography on their smart phones while eating<br>Behavioral: No Phone Use<br>* Participants will not use their smart phones while eating<br>|
| Experimental: Non-Food Photography<br>On the first visit, participants will engage in non-food photography on their smart phones while eating. On the second visit, participants will not use their smart phones while eating. | Behavioral: Non-Food Photography<br>* Participants will engage in non-food photography on their smart phones while eating<br>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 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Amount of food consumed | Weight of food after completing the lab session | 12 minutes | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Enjoyment of food consumed | Self-reported rating between 1-10 | 12 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