Thinspiration and fitspiration in everyday life: An experience sampling study

Abstract

We used experience sampling to examine thinspiration and fitspiration in the everyday lives of women and men. Undergraduates (N = 108, 21% men) completed a 1-week smartphone-facilitated experience sampling protocol containing self-report measures of thinspiration and fitspiration exposure, body satisfaction, and affective functioning. Multi-level, gender-adjusted models examined the unique and interactive associations of exposure to thinspiration and fitspiration. Women reported a weekly average of 8.4 thinspiration exposures and 9.5 fitspiration exposures, while men reported 2.3 and 4.9 exposures, respectively. The median self-reported duration of each exposure was 2-3 min, with no difference in exposure duration between thinspiration and fitspiration. Unique thinspiration exposure was associated with lower body satisfaction, lower positive affect, and higher negative affect (Cohen's ds = |0.07-0.09|, small). Unique fitspiration exposure was associated with lower body satisfaction and positive affect (ds = |0.03-0.04|, small), but not negative affect. The pattern of associations for interactive exposure (i.e., exposure to both thinspiration and fitspiration) was near-identical to the pattern for unique thinspiration exposure (ds = |0.06-0.08|). We conclude that women and men exposed to thinspiration and fitspiration in their everyday lives may subsequently experience lower body satisfaction and poorer affective functioning.

Keywords: Body image; Experience sampling; Fitspiration; Social media; Thinspiration.