Body Positive Images and Photo Modification Cues on Social Media

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this research is to explore how women evaluate photos of other women posted on social media sites. There are two factors the investigators plan to explore in an online experiment: (a) the degree to which body positive images appear to be sexualized or not; and (b) whether or not there is evidence of photo modification on these images. The results of this work will provide greater understanding into the effects of the body positive movement and determine conditions under which these campaigns are most impactful.

Detailed Description
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The purpose of this research is to explore how women evaluate photos of other women posted on social media sites. Specifically, the investigators are interested in providing more nuance regarding the effectiveness of body positive imagery (i.e., more diverse representations of physical attractiveness and empowerment of women underrepresented in the mainstream media). The literature on female objectification suggests women are oftentimes portrayed in unrealistic ways (e.g., ultra-thin and hyper-sexualized) via the mainstream media. Moreover, warranting theory provides predictions about the extent to which online content represents an offline reality. As such, there are two factors the investigators plan to explore in an online experiment: (a) the degree to which body positive images appear to be sexualized or not; and (b) whether or not there is evidence of photo modification on these images. The results of this work will provide greater understanding into the effects of the body positive movement and determine conditions under which these campaigns are most impactful.

Official Title
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Body Positive Images and Photo Modification Cues on Social Media

Conditions
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Body Image

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: psychological


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Adults 18 years of age or older Exclusion Criteria: n/a

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 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: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Factorial Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Sexualized images / High photo modification<br> | Other: psychological<br>* Participants will either view body positive images that are sexualized (vs. nonsexualized) and a great deal of evidence of photo modification (vs. low photo modification).<br>|
| Experimental: Sexualized images / Low photo modification<br> | Other: psychological<br>* Participants will either view body positive images that are sexualized (vs. nonsexualized) and a great deal of evidence of photo modification (vs. low photo modification).<br>|
| Experimental: Nonsexualized images / High photo modification<br> | Other: psychological<br>* Participants will either view body positive images that are sexualized (vs. nonsexualized) and a great deal of evidence of photo modification (vs. low photo modification).<br>|
| Experimental: Nonsexualized images / Low photo modification<br> | Other: psychological<br>* Participants will either view body positive images that are sexualized (vs. nonsexualized) and a great deal of evidence of photo modification (vs. low photo modification).<br>|
| Experimental: Control images<br> | Other: psychological<br>* Participants will either view body positive images that are sexualized (vs. nonsexualized) and a great deal of evidence of photo modification (vs. low photo modification).<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Closed-Ended Questionnaire Items Extent of Sexualization (semantic differential) | Closed-Ended Questionnaire Items--Participants will be asked to report to what extent they believe the images that they viewed are sexual in nature using semantic differential scales. | During the single-session study (data collected over 12 months); immediately after viewing experimental images | 
| Closed-Ended Questionnaire Items Extent of Physical Attractiveness (semantic differential) | Closed-Ended Questionnaire Items--Participants will be asked to report to what extent they believe the people in the images that they viewed are attractive using a semantic differential scale. | During the single-session study (data collected over 12 months); immediately after viewing experimental images | 
| Closed-Ended Questionnaire Items of Extent of Photo Modification (Likert Scale) | Closed-Ended Questionnaire Items--Participants will be asked to report to what extent they believe the images that they viewed were modified or edited in some way with a series of statements about photo modification (1 = strongly disagree; 7 = strongly agree). | During the single-session study (data collected over 12 months); immediately after viewing experimental images | 
| Closed-Ended Questionnaire Items of Extent of Body Appreciation | Closed-Ended Questionnaire Items--Participants will be asked to report to what extent they feel appreciative of their own body with a series of statements about body appreciation (1 = strongly disagree; 7 = strongly agree). | During the single-session study (data collected over 12 months); immediately after viewing experimental images | 
| Closed-Ended Questionnaire Items of Extent of Positive Body Image (Likert Scale) | Closed-Ended Questionnaire Items--Participants will be asked to report about their feelings about their own body a series of statements on their body (1 = strongly disagree; 7 = strongly agree). | During the single-session study (data collected over 12 months); immediately after viewing experimental images | 
| Closed-Ended Questionnaire Items of Extent of Positive Evaluations of Photos (Likert Scale) | Closed-Ended Questionnaire Items--Participants will be asked to report their evaluations of the images that they viewed on Likert scales with a series of statements (1 = strongly disagree; 7 = strongly agree). | During the single-session study (data collected over 12 months); immediately after viewing experimental images | 
| Open-Ended Questionnaire Items on the Rate of Other-Objectification / Social Aggression | Open-Ended Questionnaire Items--Participants will be asked to report their feelings about the images they are viewing in open-ended response boxes to assess the extent to which they objectify and/or express social aggression toward the images. | During the single-session study (data collected over 12 months); as they view the experimental images | 
| Open-Ended Questionnaire Items on the Rate of State Self-Objectification | Open-Ended Questionnaire Items--Participants will be asked to report 20 statements about themselves and their identity in open-ended response boxes. | During the single-session study (data collected over 12 months); immediately after viewing experimental images | 
| Closed-Ended Demographic Item of Biological Sex | Questionnaire Item--Participants will report their biological sex as male or female to include in sample characteristics. | During the single-session study (data collected over 12 months); at the end of the survey with other demographic measures | 
| Closed-Ended Demographic Item of Race/Ethnicity | Questionnaire Item--Participants will report their race/ethnic background to include in sample characteristics. | During the single-session study (data collected over 12 months); at the end of the survey with other demographic measures | 
| Closed-Ended Demographic Item of Age | Questionnaire Item--Participants will report their age to include in sample characteristics. | During the single-session study (data collected over 12 months); at the end of the survey with other demographic measures | 
| Closed-Ended Demographic Item of Social Media Use | Questionnaire Item--Participants will report wether they have an Instagram account (yes or no); if yes, they will be asked to indicate how much time per day they spend on Instagram. | During the single-session study (data collected over 12 months); at the end of the survey with other demographic measures | 
| Closed-Ended Demographic Item of Body Height | Questionnaire Item--Participants will report their height (feet/inches) to include in sample characteristics. | During the single-session study (data collected over 12 months); at the end of the survey with other demographic measures | 
| Closed-Ended Demographic Item of Body Weight | Questionnaire Item--Participants will report their weight (in pounds) to include in sample characteristics. | During the single-session study (data collected over 12 months); at the end of the survey with other demographic measures |