Social media such as Facebook or Instagram have become an integral part of our society. For teenagers and young adults in particular, they are an integral part of everyday life. However, social media is no longer just about exchanging information with social contacts. The platforms also serve to present oneself and form opinions about body ideals.
It is not uncommon for these ideals of beauty to contribute to distorted body perception and a negative body self-image. As Jacqueline Ammer shows in her publication, young women in particular try to live up to ideals and as a result develop eating disorders. But is this development really related to social networks?
Ammer deals with the influence of Facebook and Instagram on the eating behavior of young women aged 15 to 25. Basically, significantly more young women than men suffer from eating disorders, especially between the ages of 15 and 24. In her book, Jacqueline Ammer makes it clear how closely the ideal female body is linked to slimness.
From the content:
- obsession with thinness;
- diet;
- mental health;
- self-awareness;
- self-esteem
Table of contents
Acknowledgements
Abstract
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
Bibliography
List of figures
Acknowledgements
At this point I would like to thank everyone who supported me professionally and personally with this bachelor thesis. My greatest thanks go to my family, on whom I can rely in all situations of life and who are always at my side. My parents, Rosmarie and Manfred, not only made this study possible for me financially, but also supported and motivated me in all my decisions.
I would also like to thank Mrs MMag. Dr. Elke Höfler for the professional support during the writing of the bachelor thesis. A heartfelt thank you also goes to my friend Laura, who took over the proofreading of the work. Finally, I would like to say a huge thank you to all my friends who have supported and motivated me emotionally.
THANK YOU
Abstract
This thesis deals with the influence of Facebook and Instagram on the development of eating disorders. The focus is on the target group of young women between the ages of 15 and 25, since an eating disorder develops between the ages of 15 and 24 and significantly more young women than men suffer from eating disorders. Facebook and Instagram were chosen because they have become an important part of the daily lives of teenagers and young adults. They are not only used for social contacts, but also for self-presentation. Studies show that the female ideal of the body is strongly linked to slimness, which places ever higher demands on the female body. In the course of the research it could be determined that the idealized body images on social media lower the self-esteem of young women and lead to a considerably lower satisfaction with their own bodies. Frequent consumption of the social networks Facebook and Instagram causes a distorted body perception and a negative body self-image in young women. This often causes eating disorders and can also lead to a serious eating disorder.
1 Introduction
In today's society, social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram have become indispensable. They have become an integral part of the daily lives of adolescents and young adults (Feierabend, Plankenhorn , & Rathgeb, 2017, S. 3). These are often linked to the well-known ideals of beauty and contribute more and more to the formation of opinions about body ideals. Beauty ideals often lead to a distorted body perception and a negative body self-image, which can lead to harmful measures for weight loss. (Ramelow, Teutsch, Hoffmann, & Felder-Puig, 2015, S. 26 f.). From fasting cures and extreme dietary behaviors, serious eating disorders can develop. Young women in particular try to live up to these ideals and are often affected by them (Jacobi, Paul, & Thiel, 2004, S. 1).
Eating disorders are among the most common psychosomatic disorders in female adolescents and young women. The incidence of full vision for anorexia is 0.3–1% for adolescent girls and young women and about 1–3% for bulimia. Far more common than clinical eating disorders are preforms of eating disorders. These include, for example, permanently restrained eating, diet, feeding attacks, weight-regulating behaviors as well as constant mental preoccupation with figure and weight. According to the study "Mental Health in Austrian Teenagers", in which adolescents aged 10 to 18 years were subjected to screening (SCOFF questionnaire), 30.9% of girls are considered at risk of developing an eating disorder (Rabeder-Fink, Palka, Brandstetter, Schrattenecker, & Steininger, 2016, S. 15).
Even if biological, psychological, family and socio-cultural risk factors must always be considered in their interaction (Biedert, 2008, S. 20 f.), the high value of an overly slim and flawless body is discussed particularly frequently. Accordingly, social media are often blamed for the social framework conditions of the development of eating disorders (Baumann, Keller, Maurer, Quandt, & Schweiger, 2011).
The motivation for this topic stems from the fact that I myself grew up with social media and use platforms like Facebook and Instagram on a daily basis. I have had to realize more and more often how addictive social networks are and how much they can influence body satisfaction. However, since this body dissatisfaction is still more pronounced in young women (HBSC-Studienverbund Deutschland, 2015, S. 1 f.) and the gender distribution shows that significantly more young women than young men suffer from eating disorders (Bartholdy, Allen, Hodsoll, & et al., 2017, S. 696), this bachelor thesis should refer to the female affected persons aged 15 to 25 years.
In the course of this work, the following research question will be dealt with and clarified: What influence do Facebook and Instagram have on the development of eating disorders in young women?
At the beginning of this bachelor thesis, theoretical foundations and definitions of important terms are described in order to enable a better understanding of their context. The work generally begins with the topic of body image, followed by self-awareness, self-esteem and body satisfaction. In addition to the explanation of the term eating disorder, the presentation of the manifestations of eating disorders follows, as well as their possible consequences. This is followed by the connection to the social networks. This chapter focuses on the Facebook and Instagram networks and the risks they entail. Here, topics such as media mediation of body ideals and body trends are presented.
The aim of this work is to find out whether the social platforms Facebook and Instagram have a negative impact on the body self-image of young women and whether these are influencing factors on the development of eating disorders.
2 Body image
2.1 Body image and body scheme
By "body image" all psychological parts of the body experience are understood. Usually, different dimensions of the subjective experience of one's own body are understood by this. These include perception, cognition, affect and behavior. Perceptions include the perceptions of one's own body or individual characteristics, but also inner body processes and body feeling. Cognitions include judgmental aspects such as satisfaction with appearance or the importance of appearance for self-esteem or lifestyle. Closely linked to this are the affective experience and well-being, as well as effects on behavior (Martin & Svaldi, 2015).
"Body schema" is understood to mean all physical areas of body experience. This concerns consciously felt and reflected on one's own body. Body schema is broken down into body orientation, body expansion and body knowledge. Body orientation means orientation on and in the body with the help of surface and depth sensitivity and, above all, kinesthetic perception (the sense of movement, power and position). The estimation of proportions, as well as the spatial expansion of one's own body is called body expansion. Body knowledge means the factual knowledge of the structure and function of one's own body (Bielefeld, 1986, S. 17).
An intact body image and body scheme are the basic prerequisite for a healthy body experience. They describe how to actively perceive the body psychologically and physically. Disorders of the individual components can lead to impaired self-perception and subsequently also to cases of illness. "Body image disorders" can consist of one or more of the body image dimensions. For example, an existing dissatisfaction with one's own body can be accompanied by the incorrect perception of the externally observable appearance or the avoidance of social situations due to appearance. If body image disorders are spoken of in the sense of mental disorders, one associates this above all with eating disorders or the body dysmorphic disorder (Martin & Svaldi, 2015, S. 475). The body dysmorphic disorder is characterized by the excessive preoccupation with perceived physical flaws, which are not at all or only minimally perceptible to others (Buhlmann, Grocholewski, & Hartmann, 2018). The topic of eating disorders is discussed in more detail in the third chapter.
2.2 Self-perception and identity
Self-awareness or self-awareness is a result of body experience. It describes the perception of the self, of one's own person. This perception happens through sensory organs, as well as through psychological factors.
It is the attention that a person gives to his own constitution. This concerns the health status, but also feelings and sensations in general. Therefore, this perception is a subjective one and is also subject to external influences, such as the reflection of interpersonal relationships with regard to relationships with oneself. (Pfreundschuh, 2016). Self-perception is a part of a person's identity.
The term identity was used by psychoanalyst Erik H. Erikson as "... the awareness of being an unmistakable individual with his own life story, of showing a certain consistency in his actions and of having found a balance between individual demands and social expectations in the confrontation with others." (Abels, 2006, S. 254).
Identity therefore develops not only from the individual, but also depends on social and societal circumstances. The consumption of social media as well as follow-up communication with family members and friends together make a significant contribution to the identity and self-image of young people (Mikos, Hoffmann, & Winter, 2009, S. 14). Identity is called the agreement of a subject with itself. However, this is not stable and immutable, but must be developed by the individual and, if necessary, adapted according to the context of life. (Mikos, Hoffmann, & Winter, 2009, S. 163). In everyday identity work, attempts are made to create harmonious fits between inner and outer experiences and to link different partial identities. (Keupp, et al., 1999, S. 60). This is a self-reflexive process in which the different experience contents of the individual are linked by him. (Mikos, Hoffmann, & Winter, 2009, S. 163).
The meaning that the body carries in the identity of the individual has changed over time. Meanwhile, the body is understood in its meaning as a means of expression for the self in a person as an element of identity, which can and must be shaped. It is seen as an individual design object, which is a carrier of meaning for the personality of the individual. Overall, identity today is based more than before on unstable characteristics such as physical characteristics. (Pöhlmann & Joraschky, 2006, S. 192 f.).
Every person wants to be individual and differentiate themselves from others with various characteristics and characteristics. However, only to a certain extent, because belonging is also perceived as very important. It connects people when they have the same interests in certain areas. Equality connects and individuality makes people stand out from the crowd. How a person keeps the balance between these two attributes also makes up his identity. Erikson understands identity as a lifelong process (Abels, 2006, S. 250 ff.).
Self-awareness, self-awareness and self-awareness are also the basis for self-esteem (Geuter, 2006, S. 260). The importance of self-esteem and body satisfaction will be discussed in the next chapter.
2.3 Self-esteem and body satisfaction
The term "self-worth" stands for judging oneself and attributing value to one's person. According to Asendorpf and Neyer, self-esteem is defined as a subjective evaluation of one's own personality and satisfaction with oneself. Self-esteem is slightly less stable in time than the self-concept, as it is also influenced by general mood swings. However, its stability is still so high that it is usually regarded as a personality trait. (Asendorpf & Neyer, 2012, S. 208).
Several studies have shown that men have higher self-esteem than women at a young age (Wimmer-Puchinger, Gutiérrez-Lobos, & Riecher-Rössler, 2016, S. 5) and women are generally more dissatisfied with themselves than men (Forster, 2002, S. 58).
The term "body satisfaction" refers exclusively to the appearance of the body. Other aspects, such as physical health or performance, are not covered by it. Body satisfaction can be understood as a subjective evaluation of one's own appearance (Blake, 2015, S. 7 f.).
Researchers were able to confirm that body image has a decisive influence on self-esteem (Wimmer-Puchinger, Gutiérrez-Lobos, & Riecher-Rössler, 2016, S. 13). These body-related thoughts and attitudes are seen as part of the self-concept and thus have a direct influence on self-esteem. As a result, self-esteem increases the more satisfied a person is with his external appearance. Conversely, self-esteem is comparatively low in people who do not feel comfortable in their skin. Numerous studies have succeeded in confirming this link between body satisfaction and self-esteem. (Forster, 2002, S. 61). In addition, an interaction between body dissatisfaction, a negative self-concept and low self-esteem could be determined. It is believed that the low female self-esteem and the mediated beauty ideals contribute to the fact that the value of a woman is predominantly measured by her appearance. This therefore hinders a female identity that is defined by abilities and personality (Wimmer-Puchinger, Gutiérrez-Lobos, & Riecher-Rössler, 2016, S. 14).
For a healthy self-esteem, factors such as a positive body self, a match between body image and physique, as well as social recognition and a successful identification are ultimately important. (Daszkowki, 2003, S. 12). However, self-esteem can be lowered on the basis of social or media influences, for example through media-constructed body ideals. The resulting dissatisfaction with one's own body can lead to psychological problems, but also to health-damaging measures. Eating disorders and restrictive eating habits are also mentioned as possible consequences. For this reason, the topic of eating disorder is described in more detail in the following chapter.
3 Eating disorders
Eating disorders are among the behavioral abnormalities associated with physical disorders (Hölling & Schlack, 2007, S. 794). These are characterized by intense fear of weight gain, changed eating behavior (Möller, Laux, & Kapfhammer, 2002, S. 268 ff.), a body schema disorder, as well as a misjudgement of one's own body as too fat (Reich, Götz-Kühne, & Killius, 2004, S. 18). The term eating disorder summarizes various clinical pictures, which often merge into each other. The most common forms of eating disorder are anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder. Those affected differ in terms of their external appearance and psychodynamics. Psychodynamics means the effect of inner-seelic processes on the experience of the disease. What they have in common, however, is the need and function of nutrition. This is a problem that is caused by considerable physical, psychological and social consequences. Those affected are strongly influenced by this in their daily routine, their social relationships and long-term relevant personal decisions. Most girls and young women are still affected. The age range for the development of an eating disorder is given between 15 and 24 years (Hölling & Schlack, 2007, S. 794).
In the development of eating disorders, several individual influencing factors interact. The causes are usually in the personal, social and biological area (Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung, 2010, S. 12). These can be external risk factors, such as social ones, as well as internal ones, such as certain personality traits. Irrational and media-propagated ideals of beauty are often equated with performance, success and recognition. These make it particularly difficult for young people to integrate the changed body image into their newly developed understanding of identity. As teens learn that attractiveness and recognition are tied to certain body ideals, they will also initialize these standards into their self-schema. By controlling their own body, they try to compensate for their low self-esteem and dissatisfaction with the outside. The diets initiated in this way subsequently gain an unstoppable momentum of their own and can therefore be regarded as essential entry gates into an eating disorder. (Kompetenzzentrum für Menschen mit Essstörungen, 2018).
The ideal of beauty associated with diets or highly controlled eating behaviors can be a trigger for eating disorders. Other psychogenic factors such as perfectionism can lead to insecurities, low self-esteem, identity problems and therefore also to eating disorders. The disorder can be interpreted as a misguided problem-solving behavior in which the own body is put into focus (Hölling & Schlack, 2007, S. 794).
3.1 Epidemiology
Eating disorders are among the most common chronic health problems in female adolescents and young women (Rabeder-Fink, Palka, Brandstetter, Schrattenecker, & Steininger, 2016, S. 15). Although there are unfortunately no current epidemiological figures for Austria, a high number of unreported cases can be assumed with regard to eating disorders (Langer, 2011, p. 208). The first manifestation age is between the ages of 14 and 18 (Simchen, 2016, S. 143), with the risk of disease being about 30% of all girls and young women in Austria (Bundesministerium für Gesundheit , 2011). According to the HBSC study of the WHO in 2014, 51 percent of Austrian girls at the age of 15 said they were too fat, although only 12 percent were classified as overweight according to the body mass index. 24 percent were on a diet at the time of the survey (Ramelow, Teutsch, Hoffmann, & Felder-Puig, 2015, S. 26 f.).
However, eating disorders have only been recorded as a separate diagnosis in Austria since 1989. Initially diagnosed according to ICD-9, which was replaced by ICD-10 in 2001 (Wimmer-Puchinger & Langer, 2011). Through this diagnostic procedure, figures on inpatient stays due to an eating disorder could be recorded for the first time. While in 1998 1,520 people, 90% of them women, were admitted to austria because of an eating disorder, in 2008 there were almost twice as many with 2,734 people. However, these figures need to be looked at critically, as this study only shows people who have a severe form of the condition. (Bundesministerium für Gesundheit , 2011, S. 390).
3.2 Definition of the term eating disorder
Eating disorders are psychosomatic diseases with an addictive character (Wunderer & Schnebel, 2008, S. 21). These are primarily manifested by a conspicuous eating behavior (Cuntz & Hillert, 2008, S. 47). The amount of food consumed or the resulting body weight is considered pathological (Herpertz, De Zwaan, & Zipfel, 2015, S. 4). The mental disorders are not directly recognizable, but can be determined from the information and actions of those affected. The described and perceptible aspects of the symptoms, which are based on a conspicuous eating behavior and the resulting psychological, physical and social consequences, can serve as criteria for diagnostics (Cuntz & Hillert, 2008, S. 47).
Each of these three clinical pictures has its own symptoms and characteristics, which can occasionally run into each other (Simchen, 2016, S. 127). Like all mental disorders, eating disorders are described and explained using two different classification models. These are stored in the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (DSM-5) of the American Psychatric Association and secondly classified according to the "International Statistical Classification of Diseases" (ICD-10) of the World Health Organization (WHO). Both classification models have similarities and, with a few exceptions, agree on the criteria (Hogrefe, 2016).
3.2.1 Body mass index
Eating disorders are defined not only by psychological characteristics, but also by body weight. Because before someone is called "too thin", "sick" or "anorexic", it is important to determine the normal weight. In order to be able to speak of normal weight from a medical point of view, there are three different reference values: the weight distribution of the population, the body fat mass and the health risk (Cuntz & Hillert, 2008, S. 21).
The best-known method to find out in which weight range a person is or to determine the ideal weight is the so-called body mass index (BMI). The body mass index is a measure used to evaluate a person's body weight in relation to their height. This is calculated as follows: BMI= body weight (kg) / height[2 ] (m). The calculated value is then compared using a table (see Table 1). Thus, a BMI of 18.5 as normal weight, <18,5 als Untergewicht und >25.0 as overweight. However, it should be noted that these values must be viewed critically. (Wunderer, 2015, S. 33). The BMI is only a rough guideline, as it does not take into account either physique or gender or the individual composition of the body measurements of fat and muscle tissue of a person.
Abbildung in dieser Leseprobe nicht enthalten
illustration 1 BMI weight chart based on WHO
(BMI Gewichtstabelle, 2018)
The World Health Organization introduced the gender-based BMI table to take into account the natural differences between men and women when evaluating BMI (BMI Gewichtstabelle, 2018).
Abbildung in dieser Leseprobe nicht enthalten
illustration 2 BMI table: comparison between men and women
(BMI Gewichtstabelle, 2018)
The BMI limit values presented so far refer to a determination of the WHO for adults. To assess BMI in children and adolescents up to 18 years of age, age- and gender-specific weight percentile curves are available, on the basis of which the individual weight must be assessed (Rabeder-Fink, Palka, Brandstetter, Schrattenecker, & Steininger, 2016, S. 14). Due to the focus of the present work, the percentilla curves for the BMI of the girls are also shown (see Fig. 1). The 3rd and 10th percentiles are used to define pronounced underweight and underweight respectively (Kromeyer-Hauschild, Wabitsch, & Kunze, 2001, S. 811).
Abbildung in dieser Leseprobe nicht enthalten
illustration 3 Percentile curves for the BMI of girls from 0-18 years
(Kromeyer-Hauschild, Wabitsch, & Kunze, 2001)
3.2.2 Waist-to-Hip-Ratio
Body composition is an important parameter for assessing the state of health or the risk of disease, with fat distribution playing an essential role. Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is the ratio of waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) to waist circumference and hip circumference. (Pandey & Miklautsch, 2010, S. 12).
The WHR thus provides information about the body shape or the fat distribution. Often in this context, the well-known apple or pear type is cited. From psychological research, it is known that the waist-to-hip ratio of women influences their perception of their attractiveness. Women with a WHR ≤ 0.7 are also rated as more attractive by men. From medical research, on the other hand, it is known that cardiovascular risk is also closely associated with WHR (Hansbauer, 2012, S. 151).
In 2008, the WHO dealt in detail with the waist-to-hip ratio, including the measurement methods for determining WHR. First, the waist circumference between the lower edge of the lowest palpable rib and the upper edge of the pelvic crest is measured. The hip circumference is measured around the widest part of the buttocks, parallel to the floor. For both measurements, the patient stands straight with his or her arms stretched sideways and his legs closed. The measurement takes place at the end of a normal exhalation. Each measurement should be made twice and an average value should be formed. The waist-hip quotient is calculated, which takes into account the fat distribution pattern. The quotient is calculated according to the formula WHR = waist circumference in cm/hip circumference in cm. According to the WHO, this should be less than 1 for men and less than 0.85 for women (see Figure 2). (Hansbauer, 2012, S. 151 f.).
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