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The impact of social media on self‐evaluations of men striving for a muscular ideal
Author(s) -
Piatkowski Timothy M.,
White Katherine M.,
Hides Leanne M.,
Obst Patricia L.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.585
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1520-6629
pISSN - 0090-4392
DOI - 10.1002/jcop.22489
Subject(s) - thematic analysis , psychology , sociocultural evolution , social media , social psychology , representation (politics) , identity (music) , perception , affect (linguistics) , content analysis , developmental psychology , qualitative research , sociology , computer science , world wide web , communication , physics , acoustics , social science , neuroscience , politics , anthropology , political science , law
This paper describes an innovative approach combining a content analysis of commentary and images on a Facebook page with a thematic analysis of the subjective experience expressed in interviews of those impacted by the text and images. Interview participants were asked about their perceptions of the representation of the muscularity‐focused identity on social media, including the specific Facebook page. Content analysis of the Facebook page comments showed that very muscular male images attracted predominantly negative feedback from the public, a trend supported by the interview participants. Thematic analysis of the interviews indicated that a negative social media representation and commentary can affect young men's self‐esteem and increase body concern. Some men represented on the Page found it humorous, which could serve as a form of bonding for the muscularity‐focused online community. Other young men acknowledged how harmful such negative feedback can be on their self‐evaluations and body image, consistent with the sociocultural framework whereby negative representations can lead to increased body dissatisfaction.