Social media and the development of eating disorders among young women. Beauty ideals on Facebook and Instagram

Table of Contents

1 Introduction

2 Body image

2.1 Body image and body scheme

2.2 Self-perception and identity

2.3 Self-esteem and body satisfaction

3 eating disorders

3.1 epidemiology

3.2 Definition of the term eating disorder

3.3 Manifestations of eating disorders

4 Influence of social media

4.1 Definition of the term social media

4.2 Medial mediation of body ideals

4.3 Influence of Facebook and Instagram on eating disorders

5 Conclusion

Objectives and Topics

This bachelor thesis investigates the influence of social media platforms, specifically Facebook and Instagram, on the development of eating disorders among young women aged 15 to 25. It aims to clarify whether these platforms act as significant risk factors by propagating idealized, unattainable body images and fostering unhealthy comparison behaviors.

• The psychological link between body image, self-esteem, and social media usage.
• Clinical manifestations and diagnostic criteria of various eating disorders (e.g., Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating, Orthorexia).
• The role of social media mechanisms like "likes," followers, and algorithmic content curation in body dissatisfaction.
• Analysis of specific harmful trends on Instagram, such as the "Thinspiration" and "Fitspiration" movements.
• The impact of influencer culture and the "healthy eating" movement on nutritional behaviors and individual self-perception.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

1 Introduction: Provides an overview of the topic, justifying the focus on young women aged 15-25 and defining the research question regarding the impact of Facebook and Instagram on eating disorders.

2 Body image: Establishes theoretical foundations by exploring the concepts of body scheme, identity, self-perception, and the correlation between body satisfaction and self-esteem.

3 eating disorders: Details the epidemiology, clinical definitions, and various manifestations of eating disorders, including specific diagnostic methods like BMI and Waist-to-Hip-Ratio.

4 Influence of social media: Analyzes the functionality of social media, the mediation of body ideals, and how platforms like Facebook and Instagram specifically influence the development of eating disorders through trends and nutritional misinformation.

5 Conclusion: Summarizes the study's findings, highlighting the negative impact of social media on young women's body image and calling for further empirical research in the European context.

Keywords

Social Media, Eating Disorders, Facebook, Instagram, Body Image, Self-esteem, Thinspiration, Fitspiration, Orthorexia, Body Satisfaction, Influencers, Nutritional Behavior, Young Women, Mental Health, Body Ideals

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary focus of this bachelor thesis?

The work focuses on the impact of social media platforms, namely Facebook and Instagram, on the development of eating disorders in young women between 15 and 25 years old.

Which central themes are discussed in the work?

The central themes include the psychology of body image, the diagnostic criteria for various eating disorders, and the role of social networks in propagating unrealistic beauty ideals.

What is the core research question?

The research question asks: "What influence do Facebook and Instagram have on the development of eating disorders in young women?"

What scientific methodology is utilized?

The thesis employs a comprehensive literature analysis, evaluating empirical studies, diagnostic manuals (DSM-5, ICD-10), and psychological research to analyze the relationship between social media and mental health outcomes.

What does the main body cover?

The main body examines the definitions of body image and eating disorders, followed by an in-depth analysis of social media mechanisms and how specific online trends like "Thinspiration" contribute to body dissatisfaction.

Which keywords characterize the work?

The work is characterized by terms such as Social Media, Eating Disorders, Body Image, Thinspiration, Fitspiration, and Self-esteem.

How does Instagram specifically contribute to eating disorders?

Instagram contributes through image-based comparison, where influencers and users showcase "perfect" or "thin" bodies, often creating a competitive environment that lowers body satisfaction and encourages restrictive dieting.

What is the difference between "Thinspiration" and "Fitspiration" in this context?

While "Thinspiration" explicitly glorifies anorexia and starvation, "Fitspiration" purports to promote a healthy lifestyle but often similarly promotes an unattainable, ultra-slim, and athletic body norm that can lead to compulsive exercise and disordered eating.

Are Instagram's countermeasures effective?

The work notes that while Instagram attempts to ban hashtags and content that glorify eating disorders, users often circumvent these blocks by creating slight variations of the tags, rendering the countermeasures only partially effective.