How do young women with high autonomous motivation for exercise navigate fitness social media? This study aims to explore the experiences of young women who actively engage with fitness content on social media (FSM) and have a strong intrinsic drive for exercise. While FSM is known to have both positive and negative effects on individuals’ mental well-being and exercise motivation, this research seeks to understand how these young women navigate FSM in a way that promotes their mental well-being. The study recruited 9 young women who frequently used FSM and demonstrated high autonomous motivation for exercise. Interviews were conducted to explore their experiences with FSM, including its impact on their exercise motivation and behavior, as well as their strategies for engaging with FSM in a “healthy” manner.
The analysis revealed three overarching themes:
1) FSM can both motivate and demotivate individuals
2) FSM can be a harmful environment
3) being a critical FSM consumer is essential for protecting oneself.
Despite recognizing the potential dangers of FSM, these young women demonstrated the ability to protect themselves from its negative influences and provided practical suggestions for engaging with FSM in a way that supports their well-being.
The Bottom Line:
This study highlights how young women with high autonomous motivation for exercise navigate fitness social media. While FSM can have both positive and negative effects on mental well-being and exercise motivation, these women demonstrate the importance of being critical consumers and protecting themselves from the potential harm of FSM.
Key Points:
1. Fitness content on social media (FSM) is widespread, and while it can improve physical activity levels, it may also have negative effects on mental well-being.
2. Young women with high autonomous motivation for exercise are able to navigate FSM in a way that preserves their mental well-being.
3. Three overarching themes emerged from the interviews: FSM can both motivate and demotivate, FSM can be a harmful environment, and being a critical FSM consumer is crucial for self-protection.
4. These young women recognized the potential dangers of FSM but demonstrated the ability to protect themselves and offered practical suggestions for engaging with FSM in a “healthy” way.
Source Article: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563223002443?dgcid=rss_sd_all
