NEW RESEARCH ALERT - The impact of instructional fitfluencer captions

#workoutathome: How Instructions in Fitfluencers' Captions Affect Adolescents’ Body Satisfaction and Exercise Intentions

• Given existing research highlighting the potential negative impact of fitfluencers on adolescents' body satisfaction and intention to exercise, this study delved into the potential of including workout instructions in fitfluencers' captions
• Findings indicate that captions featuring workout instructions (vs. self-focused captions emphasizing the fitfluencer’s appearance) did not yield positive outcomes for either adolescents' body satisfaction or their intention to exercise.
• Interestingly, the results do point out that when adolescents compare their appearance less with fitfluencers, it tends to boost their body satisfaction.
• Moreover, when adolescents have more confidence in themselves that the exercise and appearance of the fitfluencer is attainable for them (i.e., self-efficacy), this leads to higher levels of body satisfaction and intention to exercise.
• Looking ahead, future research aims to uncover the missing puzzle piece that could potentially generate positive effects on adolescents' body satisfaction and intention to exercise.

A study by Marloes de Brabandere, Ini Vanwesenbeeck, Liselot Hudders and Verolien Cauberghe published in Health Communication, as part of the PhD project on fitfluencers. 

Interested to read more? Read the full article