Clinical trial NCT05181280: Moms on Media Study
Official title: Moms on Media Study: Testing the Influence of Social Media on the Health Behaviours of Mothers During the Postpartum Period
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Health Behavior
Lead sponsor: University of Guelph
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Canadian Foundation for Dietetic Research (CFDR)
First posted: 2022-01-06
Enrollment: 132
Sex: FEMALE
Standard ages: CHILD
ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Intervention model description: Participants are randomized into either the intervention group (body image messaging) or control group (infant feeding messaging).
Primary purpose: OTHER

Brief summary: This research will explore the impact of digital technology, specifically social media, on the health behaviours of mothers in the postpartum period by conducting an experimental study to test the effect of social media messaging on body dissatisfaction, eating attitudes and behaviours, and physical activity intentions and behaviours among postpartum mothers. The primary objective is to determine the extent to which body image messaging targeting mothers, compared with the control, result in feelings of body dissatisfaction and poorer eating attitudes and behaviours, and increased physical activity intention immediately following the 5-day exposure period. The secondary objective is to determine the sustained impact of the body image messaging compared to control at 1-month follow-up.

Detailed description: The postpartum period is a critical time for both maternal and child health. Body dissatisfaction is higher during the postpartum period compared to other periods of life and is strongly associated with disordered eating behaviours. Body dissatisfaction among mothers not only effects the health of mothers but can also negatively influence the eating attitudes and behaviours of their children.

Although research has shown that media images have a strong adverse influence of women's body dissatisfaction, most of this research has focused on traditional forms of media, such as magazines. Limited research has explored how messages and images on social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram, influence women's body dissatisfaction and disordered eating risk, and no studies have explored this association among mothers. This is a concern as nearly 90% of mothers use social media regularly. Thus, little is known about how the current media environment influences body dissatisfaction and eating behaviour during the postpartum period.

The proposed research will address this knowledge gap by conducting an experimental study to test the effect of social media messaging on body dissatisfaction, eating attitudes and behaviours, and physical activity intentions and behaviours among postpartum mothers. The primary objective is to determine the extent to which body image messaging targeting mothers, compared with the control, result in feelings of body dissatisfaction and poorer eating attitudes and behaviours, and increased physical activity intention immediately following the 5-day exposure period. The secondary objective is to determine the sustained impact of the body image messaging compared to control at 1-month follow-up.

This study will provide a much-needed understanding of the effect of digital technology on postpartum mothers' body dissatisfaction, eating attitudes and behaviours, and physical activity intentions and behaviours. Results will inform healthcare interventions, equipping clinicians with research-based evidence to support postpartum mothers in maintaining positive body image and healthy eating and physical activity attitudes and behaviours.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Can respond to surveys in English
* Has a child 0-6 months old
* Owns a smartphone

Exclusion Criteria:

* History of anxiety or depression
* Taking pharmacological treatments for anxiety or depression

Primary outcomes:
measure: Change in Body Dissatisfaction at 5 days and 1 month
timeFrame: 5 days and 1 month
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Change in Eating Attitude at 5 days and 1 month
timeFrame: 5 days and 1 month
measure: Change in Eating Behaviour at 5 days and 1 month
timeFrame: 5 days and 1 month
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Guelph
country: Canada
facility: University of Guelph
state: Ontario
Study officials:
References:
citation: Tang L, Tiggemann M, Haines J. #Fitmom: an experimental investigation of the effect of social media on body dissatisfaction and eating and physical activity intentions, attitudes, and behaviours among postpartum mothers. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022 Oct 12;22(1):766. doi: 10.1186/s12884-022-05089-w.