A replication and expansion of the exposure effects of online model photos and social comparison goals on planned behaviors and self-efficacy to lose weight

2021 ◽  
pp. 146144482110553
Author(s):  
Wenjing Pan ◽  
Jorge Peña
Keyword(s):  
Social Comparison ◽  
Factorial Design ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Comparison Theory ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Lower Weight ◽  
Comparison Research ◽  
Planned Behaviors ◽  
Explicit Comparison

This study replicated and expanded social comparison theory predictions in regard to how exposure to online models and explicit comparison goals affected planned behaviors and self-efficacy to lose weight in men and women. A 2 (models’ attractiveness: more attractive vs less attractive) × 2 (models’ weight status: lower vs higher) × 2 (explicit social comparison instructions: present vs absent) × 2 (gender: female vs male) factorial design was adopted ( N = 418). Women and men exposed to online photos of more attractive models reported higher planned behaviors to lose weight relative to those who were exposed to photos of less attractive models, thus replicating previous research. Participants exposed to more attractive and higher weight models reported higher self-efficacy to lose weight relative to those exposed to more attractive and lower weight models. Contrary to the prediction, women who did not receive social comparison instructions showed higher planned behaviors to lose weight relative to women who were instructed to explicitly compare themselves against the models. The study discusses implications for social comparison research and avenues for future inquiry.

scholarly journals Educational leadership, leader-member exchange and teacher self-efficacy

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 140-153
Author(s):  
Gabriela Flores ◽  
Denver Fowler ◽  
Richard Posthuma
Keyword(s):  
Educational Leadership ◽  
Social Comparison ◽  
School Leadership ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Cognitive Theory ◽  
Leader Member Exchange ◽  
Comparison Theory ◽  
Member Exchange ◽  
Teacher Self Efficacy ◽  
And Performance

The purpose of this article is to examine social cognitive theory and social comparison theory, and how they are integrated to propose that self-efficacy mediates the relationship between leader-member exchange social comparison (LMXSC) and performance. Furthermore, the article supports the need for development and examination of the effects of educational leadership and teacher self-efficacy. That is, to determine if school leadership has an effect on teacher self-efficacy, and if teacher self-efficacy has an effect on student achievement. The preliminary conceptual model developed within the article includes insightful research questions to be considered for impending future studies. The authors hope this line of research will investigate the extent to which teacher self-efficacy is responsible for behavior outcomes associated with LMXSC, as well as the effect school leadership and teacher self-efficacy brings to this process.

The causal relationship between envy and depression: A cross-lagged regression analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (12) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Xinsheng Jiang ◽  
Jinyu Wang
Keyword(s):  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Social Comparison ◽  
Causal Relationship ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Gender Effect ◽  
Comparison Theory ◽  
Treatment Of Depression ◽  
Nonclinical Sample ◽  
Upward Social Comparison ◽  
The Relationship

The causal relationship between envy and depression is currently far from clear. We conducted a cross-lagged regression analysis of data on envy and depression, obtained from a nonclinical sample of 260 undergraduate students at two time points spaced 14 months apart. From the perspective of social comparison theory, the results show that although after 14 months envy positively predicted depression, depression did not predict envy. The envy–depression relationship is, thus, a unidirectional causality. In addition, there was no overall gender effect on the relationship between envy and depression. Our finding of the effect of upward social comparison on the envy–depression relationship provides guidance for the treatment of depression in clinical practice.

Weight Identity Among Older Adults in the United States: Genetic and Environmental Influences

2018 ◽  
pp. 262-274
Author(s):  
Robbee Wedow ◽  
Daniel A. Briley ◽  
Susan E. Short ◽  
Jason Boardman
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Identity ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Subjective Assessment ◽  
The United States ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Perceived Weight ◽  
Midlife Adults

This chapter uses twin pairs from the Midlife in the United States study to investigate the genetic and environmental influences on perceived weight status for midlife adults. The inquiry builds on previous work investigating the same phenomenon in adolescents, and it shows that perceived weight status is not only heritable, but also heritable beyond objective weight. Subjective assessment of physical weight is independent of one’s physical weight and described as “weight identity.” Importantly, significant differences are shown in the heritability of weight identity among men and women. The chapter ends by discussing the potential relevance of these findings for broader social identity research.

scholarly journals Brief parental self-efficacy scales for promoting healthy eating and physical activity in children: a validation study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Åsa Norman ◽  
Julie Wright ◽  
Emma Patterson
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Construct Validity ◽  
Sex Education ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Parental Education ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Objective Measures ◽  
Partial Metric ◽  
Invariance Testing

Abstract Background Brief scales to measure parental self-efficacy (PSE) in relation to children’s obesogenic behaviours have not been developed and validated using more rigorous methodology such as invariance testing, limiting their generalisability to sub-groups. This study aimed to assess the construct validity and measurement invariance of brief PSE scales for children’s intake of vegetables, soft drinks, and sweets, and physical activity. Methods Parents (n = 242) of five-to-seven-year-old children in disadvantaged and culturally diverse settings in Sweden responded to a questionnaire in Swedish with 12 items assessing PSE in relation to healthy and unhealthy behaviours. Construct validity was assessed with confirmatory factor analysis, invariance testing compared the scales by groups of parental sex, education, and child weight status. Criterion validity was evaluated using objective measures of children’s physical activity and semi-objective measures of diet. Results Two-factor models showed moderate to excellent fit to the data. Invariance was supported across all groups for healthy behaviour scales. Unhealthy behaviour scales were invariant for all groups except parental education where partial metric invariance was supported. Scales were significantly correlated with physical activity and diet. Conclusion This study provides preliminary evidence for the validity of brief PSE scales and invariance across groups suggesting their utility for research and clinical management of weight-related behaviours.

scholarly journals Social Comparison Features in Physical Activity Promotion Apps: Scoping Meta-Review (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle Arigo ◽  
Megan M Brown ◽  
Kristen Pasko ◽  
Jerry Suls
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Social Comparison ◽  
Behavioral Modeling ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Smartphone Apps ◽  
Comparison Theory ◽  
Activity Promotion ◽  
Meta Review ◽  
Definition Of

BACKGROUND Smartphone apps promoting physical activity (PA) are abundant, but few produce substantial and sustained behavior change. Although many PA apps purport to induce users to compare themselves with others (by invoking social comparison processes), improvements in PA and other health behaviors are inconsistent. Existing literature suggests that social comparison may motivate PA for some people under some circumstances. However, 2 aspects of work that apply social comparison theory to PA apps remain unclear: (1) how comparison processes have been operationalized or harnessed in existing PA apps and (2) whether incorporating sources of variability in response to comparison have been used to tailor comparison features of apps, which could improve their effectiveness for promoting PA. OBJECTIVE The aim of this meta-review was to summarize existing systematic, quantitative, and narrative reviews of behavior change techniques in PA apps, with an emphasis on social comparison features, to examine how social comparison is operationalized and implemented. METHODS We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and PsycINFO for reviews of PA smartphone apps. Of the 3743 initial articles returned, 26 reviews met the inclusion criteria. Two independent raters extracted the data from these reviews, including the definition of social comparison used to categorize app features, the percentage of apps categorized as inducing comparison, specific features intended to induce comparison, and any mention of tailoring comparison features. For reference, these data were also extracted for related processes (such as behavioral modeling, norm referencing, and social networking). RESULTS Of the included review articles, 31% (8/26) categorized app features as prompting social comparison. The majority of these employed Abraham and Michie’s earliest definition of comparison, which differs from versions in later iterations of the same taxonomy. Very few reviews specified what dimension users were expected to compare (eg, steps, physical fitness) or which features of the apps were used to induce comparison (eg, leaderboards, message boards). No review referenced tailoring of comparison features. In contrast, 54% (14/26) reviews categorized features for prompting behavioral modeling and 31% (8/26) referenced tailoring app features for users’ personal goals or preferences. CONCLUSIONS The heterogeneity across reviews of PA apps and the absence of relevant information (eg, about dimensions or features relevant for comparison) create confusion about how to best harness social comparison to increase PA and its effectiveness in future research. No evidence was found that important findings from the broader social comparison literature (eg, that people have differing preferences for and responses to social comparison information) have been incorporated in the design of existing PA apps. Greater integration of the mobile health (mHealth) and social comparison literatures may improve the effectiveness of PA apps, thereby increasing the public health impact of these mHealth tools. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR2-https://osf.io/nh4td/

scholarly journals GET IT, GIRL! An exploration of "fitspiration" content on Instagram using visual social semiotics and social comparison theory

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaitlyn McGuirk
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Social Comparison ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Professional Communication ◽  
Social Comparison Theory ◽  
Social Semiotics ◽  
Comparison Theory ◽  
Young Females ◽  
Media Platform ◽  
Female Bodies

By definition “fitspiration” (fit + inspiration) is any message designed to inspire or motivate individuals to achieve their fitness objectives. These messages are usually accompanied by an image of a very fit person performing a physical activity. Fitspiration messages seem to be everywhere with more than 12 million results on Instagram alone. This Master of Professional Communication Major Research Paper (MRP) explores the “fitspiration” phenomenon on the social media platform Instagram by examining 50 images tagged with “#fitspiration” during March and April 2017. Informed and analyzed through multiple methods including content analysis, visual social semiotics theory, discourse analysis and social comparison theory, this report seeks to answer the research questions: (1) What are the characteristics of “fitspiration” images on Instagram that are aimed at young women? (2) What messages do these media images convey? (3) What are the implications of these messages on young women? The results of this study suggest that the “thin-ideal” that is embedded in western culture still dominates social media and the “fitspiration” community, which continues to negatively impact young women’s self-esteem and body image. However, based on the findings there is a shift to the “strong is the new skinny” mentality where the captions and comments of each image are overwhelmingly positive in nature with little to no existence of destructive discourses. In an attempt to lessen the effects of such idealized and unrealistic portrayals of female bodies on young women there must be this continued presence of constructive messages and conversations on social media, coupled with education and social media literacy for young females.

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