Moms on Media Study

NCT ID: NCT05181280

Last Updated: 2023-05-09

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 132 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2020-11-15
• Study Completion Date: 2021-02-21

Brief Summary

This research will explore the impact of digital technology, specifically social media, on the health behaviours of mothers in the postpartum period by conducting an experimental study to test the effect of social media messaging on body dissatisfaction, eating attitudes and behaviours, and physical activity intentions and behaviours among postpartum mothers. The primary objective is to determine the extent to which body image messaging targeting mothers, compared with the control, result in feelings of body dissatisfaction and poorer eating attitudes and behaviours, and increased physical activity intention immediately following the 5-day exposure period. The secondary objective is to determine the sustained impact of the body image messaging compared to control at 1-month follow-up.

Detailed Description

The postpartum period is a critical time for both maternal and child health. Body dissatisfaction is higher during the postpartum period compared to other periods of life and is strongly associated with disordered eating behaviours. Body dissatisfaction among mothers not only effects the health of mothers but can also negatively influence the eating attitudes and behaviours of their children.

Although research has shown that media images have a strong adverse influence of women's body dissatisfaction, most of this research has focused on traditional forms of media, such as magazines. Limited research has explored how messages and images on social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram, influence women's body dissatisfaction and disordered eating risk, and no studies have explored this association among mothers. This is a concern as nearly 90% of mothers use social media regularly. Thus, little is known about how the current media environment influences body dissatisfaction and eating behaviour during the postpartum period.

The proposed research will address this knowledge gap by conducting an experimental study to test the effect of social media messaging on body dissatisfaction, eating attitudes and behaviours, and physical activity intentions and behaviours among postpartum mothers. The primary objective is to determine the extent to which body image messaging targeting mothers, compared with the control, result in feelings of body dissatisfaction and poorer eating attitudes and behaviours, and increased physical activity intention immediately following the 5-day exposure period. The secondary objective is to determine the sustained impact of the body image messaging compared to control at 1-month follow-up.

This study will provide a much-needed understanding of the effect of digital technology on postpartum mothers' body dissatisfaction, eating attitudes and behaviours, and physical activity intentions and behaviours. Results will inform healthcare interventions, equipping clinicians with research-based evidence to support postpartum mothers in maintaining positive body image and healthy eating and physical activity attitudes and behaviours.

Conditions

Health Behavior

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: OTHER
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Intervention

Treatment: Standardized body image messaging targeting mothers. Following a similar model that has been used in previous studies testing the effect of traditional media exposure on body image and disordered eating behaviour, participants randomized to the treatment condition will have 1 exposure session per day over 5 days. Each exposure session will consist of 15 social media body message posts. Body image messaging targeting mothers will consist of mothers with "ideal" postpartum bodies and captions trending over the past 24 months.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Intervention Group

Intervention Type: OTHER

Exposure session will consist of 15 social media "ideal body" message posts.

Control

Control: Standardized infant feeding tips messaging. Participants randomized to the control will have 1 exposure session/day over 5 days. Each exposure will consist of 15 social media posts on infant feeding tips.

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Control Group

Intervention Type: OTHER

Exposure will consist of 15 social media posts on infant feeding tips.

Interventions

Intervention Group

Exposure session will consist of 15 social media "ideal body" message posts.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Control Group

Exposure will consist of 15 social media posts on infant feeding tips.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Can respond to surveys in English
• Has a child 0-6 months old
• Owns a smartphone

Exclusion Criteria

• History of anxiety or depression
• Taking pharmacological treatments for anxiety or depression

• Eligible Sex: FEMALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Canadian Foundation for Dietetic Research (CFDR)

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

University of Guelph

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Lisa Tang

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

University of Guelph

Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Countries

Canada

References

Tang L, Tiggemann M, Haines J. #Fitmom: an experimental investigation of the effect of social media on body dissatisfaction and eating and physical activity intentions, attitudes, and behaviours among postpartum mothers. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022 Oct 12;22(1):766. doi: 10.1186/s12884-022-05089-w.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 36224523 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

054798

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id