“Embracing my queerness has actually been really healing for the way that I live in my body”: An exploration of queer women’s body image and physical activity

Body Image and Televised Images of Thinness and Attractiveness: A Controlled Laboratory Investigation

This study aimed to investigate the effects of both past and current physical activity and media use on women's body image. A sample of 144 female undergraduate students completed measures of current physical activity, media use and body image, as well as providing retrospective reports of their physical activity participation and media usage during childhood and adolescence. Regression analyses showed that childhood experiences of physical activity and media use predicted adult body-image concerns more strongly than current activities. It was concluded that early experiences of both physical activity and media use during childhood and adolescence play an important role in the development of adult women's body image.

This study delves into the profound impact of social media on body image perceptions and overall dissatisfaction among young adults at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. In today's digital age, social media pervades the lives of young people, shaping their self-perceptions and influencing their social interactions. This research aims to understand how the constant exposure to curated and often idealized images on social media platforms contributes to the development of unrealistic body standards, fostering feelings of inadequacy and pressure to conform to societal beauty ideals. Employing a quantitative research approach, the study focused on a sample of 200 undergraduate and postgraduate students aged 18 to 30 years. Data collection utilized systematic sampling techniques and involved the administration of questionnaires via Google Forms. The study drew upon Social Comparison Theory to understand how individuals evaluate their own appearance by comparing themselves to the seemingly flawless images and physiques presented on social media platforms. Data analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics. The findings revealed a significant correlation between social media usage and body image dissatisfaction among young adults. Frequent comparisons with idealized images of influencers and celebrities on social media platforms were found to be a major contributor to negative body image perceptions, leading to a range of negative emotional and psychological outcomes, including anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. These findings underscore the urgent need for interventions that address the detrimental effects of social media on young adults' mental health. This may include the development and implementation of comprehensive media literacy programs designed to equip young people with the critical thinking skills necessary to navigate the complexities of the digital world and resist the pressures to conform to unrealistic beauty standards. Furthermore, fostering a more inclusive and diverse representation of body images on social media platforms is crucial to promoting healthier body image perceptions and enhancing the overall well-being of young adults in the digital age. References Abi-Jaoude, E., Naylor, K. T., & Pignatiello, A. (2020). Smartphones, social media use and youth mental health. Cmaj, 192(6), E136-E141. Aichner, T., Grünfelder, M., Maurer, O., & Jegeni, D. (2021). Twenty-five years of social media: a review of social media applications and definitions from 1994 to 2019. Cyberpsychology, behavior, and social networking, 24(4), 215-222. Ali, R. (2016). Social Media and Youth in Pakistan: Social Media and Youth in Pakistan: Implications on Family Relations. Global Media Journal, 14, 26. Ando, Kanako, Francesca E. Giorgianni, Elisa S. Danthinne, and Rachel F. Rodgers. 2021. “Beauty Ideals, Social Media, and Body Positivity: A Qualitative Investigation of Influences on Body Image among Young Women in Japan.” Body Image 38:358–69. Asif, M., & Sandhu, M. S. (2023). Social Media Marketing Revolution in Pakistan: A Study of its Adoption and Impact on Business Performance. Journal of Business Insight and Innovation, 2(2), 67-77. Aziz, J. (2017). Social media and body issues in young adults: an empirical study on the influence of Instagram use on body image and fatphobia in catalan university students. Bashir, H., & Bhat, S. A. (2017). Effects of social media on mental health: A review. International Journal of Indian Psychology, 4(3), 125-131. Boske, C., & McCormack, S. (2011). Building an understanding of the role of media literacy for Latino/a high school students. The High School Journal, 94(4), 167-186. Braghieri, L., Levy, R. E., & Makarin, A. (2022). Social media and mental health. American Economic Review, 112(11), 3660-3693. Brown, Z., & Tiggemann, M. (2016). Attractive celebrity and peer images on Instagram: Effect on women's mood and body image. Body image, 19, 37-43. Burnette, C. Blair, Melissa A. Kwitowski, and Suzanne E. Mazzeo. 2017. “‘I Don’t Need People to Tell Me I’m Pretty on Social Media:’ A Qualitative Study of Social Media and Body Image in Early Adolescent Girls.” Body Image 23:114–25. Choudhury, N. R., & Reddy, V. N. (2021). Body image dissatisfaction in young adults: Impact of social media use. International Journal of Education and Psychological Research (IJEPR), 10(3), 15-18. Chu, J. (1997). Navigating the media environment: How youth claim a place through zines. Social Justice, 24(3 (69), 71-85. DeBraganza, N., & Hausenblas, H. A. (2010). Media exposure of the ideal physique on women’s body dissatisfaction and mood: The moderating effects of ethnicity. Journal of Black Studies, 40(4), 700-716. De Vries, D. A., Vossen, H. G., & van der Kolk–van der Boom, P. (2019). Social media and body dissatisfaction: investigating the attenuating role of positive parent–adolescent relationships. Journal of youth and adolescence, 48, 527-536. Dimitrov, D., & Kroumpouzos, G. (2023). Beauty perception: a historical and contemporary review. Clinics in Dermatology, 41(1), 33-40. Lubis, A. R., Fachrizal, F., & Lubis, M. (2017). The effect of social media to cultural homecoming tradition of computer students in medan. Procedia Computer Science, 124, 423-428. Eggerstedt, M., Rhee, J., Urban, M. J., Mangahas, A., Smith, R. M., & Revenaugh, P. C. (2020). Beauty is in the eye of the follower: facial aesthetics in the age of social media. American Journal of Otolaryngology, 41(6), 102643. Fardouly, J., & Vartanian, L. R. (2016). Social media and body image concerns: Current research and future directions. Current opinion in psychology, 9, 1-5. Fardouly, J., Diedrichs, P. C., Vartanian, L. R., & Halliwell, E. (2015). Social comparisons on social media: The impact of Facebook on young women's body image concerns and mood. Body image, 13, 38-45. Filice, E., Raffoul, A., Meyer, S. B., & Neiterman, E. (2019). The influence of Grindr, a geosocial networking application, on body image in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men: An exploratory study. Body image, 31, 59-70. Franchina, V., & Lo Coco, G. (2018). The influence of social media use on body image concerns. International Journal of Psychoanalysis & Education, 10(1). Gillespie-Smith, K., Hendry, G., Anduuru, N., Laird, T., & Ballantyne, C. (2021). Using social media to be ‘social’: Perceptions of social media benefits and risk by autistic young people, and parents. Research in developmental disabilities, 118, 104081. Jiotsa, B., Naccache, B., Duval, M., Rocher, B., & Grall-Bronnec, M. (2021). Social media use and body image disorders: Association between frequency of comparing one’s own physical appearance to that of people being followed on social media and body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(6), 2880. Kleemans, M., Daalmans, S., Carbaat, I., & Anschütz, D. (2018). Picture perfect: The direct effect of manipulated Instagram photos on body image in adolescent girls. Media Psychology, 21(1), 93-110. Lee, H. R., Lee, H. E., Choi, J., Kim, J. H., & Han, H. L. (2014). Social media use, body image, and psychological well-being: A cross-cultural comparison of Korea and the United States. Journal of health communication, 19(12), 1343-1358. Liu, J. (2021, June). The influence of the body image presented through TikTok trend-videos and its possible reasons. In 2nd International Conference on Language, Art and Cultural Exchange (ICLACE 2021) (pp. 359-363). Atlantis Press. Nagar, I., & Virk, R. (2017). The struggle between the real and ideal: Impact of acute media exposure on body image of young Indian women. SAGE Open, 7(1), 2158244017691327. Naslund, J. A., Bondre, A., Torous, J., & Aschbrenner, K. A. (2020). Social media and mental health: benefits, risks, and opportunities for research and practice. Journal of technology in behavioral science, 5, 245-257. Nortje, A. (2020). Social Comparison: An Unavoidable Upward Or Downward Spiral. PositivePsychology.com. https://positivepsychology.com/social-comparison/ Pfeiffer, C., Kleeb, M., Mbelwa, A., & Ahorlu, C. (2014). The use of social media among adolescents in Dar es Salaam and Mtwara, Tanzania. Reproductive health matters, 22(43), 178-186. Plaisime, M., Robertson-James, C., Mejia, L., Núñez, A., Wolf, J., & Reels, S. (2020). Social media and teens: A needs assessment exploring the potential role of social media in promoting health. Social Media+ Society, 6(1), 2056305119886025. Pryde, S., & Prichard, I. (2022). TikTok on the clock but the# fitspo don’t stop: The impact of TikTok fitspiration videos on women’s body image concerns. Body image, 43, 244-252. Saghir, S., & Hyland, L. (2017). The effects of immigration and media influence on body image among Pakistani men. American Journal of Men's Health, 11(4), 930-940. Sanzari, C. M., Gorrell, S., Anderson, L. M., Reilly, E. E., Niemiec, M. A., Orloff, N. C., ... & Hormes, J. M. (2023). The impact of social media use on body image and disordered eating behaviors: Content matters more than duration of exposure. Eating behaviors, 49, 101722. Sekayi, D. (2003). Aesthetic resistance to commercial influences: The impact of the Eurocentric beauty standard on Black college women. Journal of Negro Education, 467-477. Shabir, G., Hameed, Y. M. Y., Safdar, G., & Gilani, S. M. F. S. (2014). The impact of social media on youth: A case study of bahawalpur city. Asian Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities, 3(4), 132-151. Siddiqui, A. (2021). Social media and its role in amplifying a certain idea of beauty. Infotheca—Journal for Digital Humanities, 21(1), 73-85. Siddiqui, S., & Singh, T. (2016). Social media its impact with positive and negative aspects. International journal of computer applications technology and research, 5(2), 71-75. Slade, P. D. (1994). What is body image?. Behaviour research and therapy. Tufail, M. W., Saleem, M., & Fatima, S. Z. (2022). Relationship of Social Media and Body Image Dissatisfaction among University Students. Pakistan Journal of Applied Psychology (PJAP), 2(1), 89-97. Tylka, T. L., & Wood-Barcalow, N. L. (2015). What is and what is not positive body image? Conceptual foundations and construct definition. Body image, 14, 118-129. Virden, A. L., Trujillo, A., & Predeger, E. (2014). Young adult females’ perceptions of high-risk social media behaviors: A focus-group approach. Journal of Community Health Nursing, 31(3), 133-144. Whyte, C., Thrall, A. T., & Mazanec, B. M. (Eds.). (2021). Information warfare in the age of cyber conflict. London & New York: Routledge. Yusop, F. D., & Sumari, M. (2013). The use of social media technologies among Malaysian youth. Procedia-social and behavioral sciences, 103, 1204-1209. Zulqarnain, W., & ul Hassan, T. (2016). Individual’s perceptions about the credibility of social media in Pakistan. Strategic Studies, 36(4), 123-137.

Structured exercise can improve body image among women. Less is known if these associations extend to lifestyle physical activity—all activities of daily living with a full range of intensity. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine the relationships between lifestyle physical activity and body image in undergraduate women (n = 120; 18–23 years) during the spring of 2010 and 2011. One week of lifestyle physical activity was measured objectively (accelerometer) and subjectively (7-Day Physical Activity Recall Questionnaire). Attitudinal dimensions of body image were assessed using the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire. Physical activity was unrelated to appearance-related dimensions of women's body image. Objectively-measured vigorous physical activity was positively related to investment in fitness and health (p < .005), while moderate physical activity was related to investment in fitness (p < .005). Light physical activity was unrelated to women's body image. A greater amount of self-reported vigorous physical activity was related to greater investment in fitness (p < .005). Results suggested that unlike structured exercise, lifestyle physical activity was generally unrelated to women's body image. The act of exercising may be more important than accumulation of lifestyle physical activity when considering women's body image.

Physical activity is a promising strategy for improving women's body image. Engaging in resistance training (RT) may lead to unique body-related outcomes when compared to other forms of physical activity (e.g., aerobic activity) yet is less studied in women’s body image research. In an integrative model, the purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between women's RT, positive body image (functionality appreciation and body appreciation), physical self-perceptions (perceived strength and confidence in physical abilities), and body-related self-conscious emotions (appearance- and fitness-related shame, guilt, envy, embarrassment, authentic and hubristic pride). A sample of 400 women (Mage = 25.6 ± 5.3 years) completed an online survey. We used path analysis to test the direct effects of RT minutes/week on body-related self-conscious emotions, controlling for other forms of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and the indirect effects through positive body image and physical self-perceptions. In the models, RT had no direct effects on appearance-related emotions but was associated with lower fitness-related guilt and higher fitness-related pride. Indirectly, higher RT engagement was linked to lower appearance- and fitness-related shame, guilt, envy, and embarrassment, and higher pride through positive body image and physical self-perceptions. Together, the variables accounted for 23-58% of the variance in body-related self-conscious emotions. These findings underscore the need for further longitudinal and intervention studies to explore whether RT may serve as a viable pathway to improving women's positive body image, physical self-perceptions, and body-related self-conscious emotions.

Research in sport and exercise settings suggests that physical activity leaders have the potential to influence body image for their athletes and exercisers. However, research is yet to explore this possibility in the context of one-to-one exercise relationships. The present study sought to explore women's body image in the context of personal training, specifically how women perceive the language and behaviours of their personal trainers as influencing their thoughts and feelings about their bodies. Seventeen women (aged 45-64) sent diary entries via WhatsApp after each personal training session over a period of four weeks. Each participant then took part in a semi-structured interview to elaborate on their diary entries and their overall experiences of their body in the context of their personal training sessions. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis from a critical-realist perspective. Four themes were generated: (1) "We're all different, aren't we?": Permission to be me, (2) "Dial it back accordingly": Confidence through responsiveness, (3) A mutual focus on function, and (4) Supporting connection with the body through movement. Findings provide insight into how interpersonal relationships within exercise settings contribute to women's body image and suggest ways in which personal trainers could promote positive body image through their interactions with their clients.

Attractive celebrity and peer images on Instagram: Effect on women's mood and body image

An Intersectional Examination of Blind and Visually Impaired Women’s Physical Activity Experiences Introduction Largely, existing research examining the physical activity behaviours of blind adults have been survey studies (Haegele et al., 2016; Haegele et al., 2017; Haegele & Zhu, 2021; 2022; Jaarsma et al., 2014; Shaw et al., 2012; Starkoff et al., 2017), leaving a rich description of their physical activity experiences unexplored. According to Seale (2012), it is important to study the lived experience of individuals who identify as being a woman and having a disability to investigate how their multiple and multiplicative positions lead to possible oppression and opportunity in physical activity contexts.. The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of blind women when attempting to access and participate in physical activity through an intersectional lens. Methodology This study utilized an experiential qualitative research approach (Braun & Clarke, 2021), and 10 blind women between the ages of 27-45 years served as participants. Data were collected through one-on-one audio recorded semi-structured interviews with each participant. Results The reflexive thematic analysis of the interview data yielded the construction of two themes, (1) ‘The female part definitely adds another layer of perceived vulnerability’: Confounding vulnerability, and (2) ‘Men are seen as strong; women are seen as bitches’: Navigating stereotypes. Conclusions Findings revealed that participants were aware of others perceiving them as vulnerable, and that to avoid gendered and abled exchanges, they adopted several practices that allowed them to feel safer in physical activity environments. Additionally, the women’s physical activity experiences were clearly impacted by gender and disability stereotypes evidenced by the ways in which they navigated disparities in expectations. References Braun, V. & Clarke, V. (2021). Thematic analysis: A practical guide. Sage. Haegele, J. A., Brian, A. S., & Lieberman, L. J. (2017). Social cognitive theory determinants of physical activity in adults with visual impairments. Journal of Developmental & Physical Disabilities, 29(6), 911-923. https://doi.org/10.1007/s108802-017-9562-0 Haegele, J. A. & Zhu, X. (2021). Physical activity, self-efficacy, and health-related quality of life among adults with visual impairments. Disability and Rehabilitation, 43(4), 530- Haegele, J. A., & Zhu, X. (2022). Movement behaviors, comorbidities, and health- related quality of life among adults with visual impairments. Disability and Rehabilitation, 44(16), 4361-4367. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2021.1906333 Haegele, J. A., Zhu, X., Lee, J., & Lieberman, L. J. (2016). Physical activity for adults with visual impairments: Impact of socio-demographic factors. European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity, 9(1), 33-14. https://doi.org/10.5507/euj.2016.001

"Presentable for the outside world": Social class, cultural capital and body image amongst White working-class women in the United Kingdom.

For young adults (YAs), a cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatments may result in physical changes that can negatively impact body image (BI) and health-related quality of life (HRQL). Physical activity (PA) is an evidence-based tool found to impact both BI and HRQL. However, most research has focused on the perspectives of older adults with breast or prostate cancer. No research has explored the experiences of PA, BI, and HRQL in YA males affected by cancer. A qualitative study was designed for YA males diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 20 and 39 years. Eligible participants were recruited through pre-existing exercise oncology studies, support organizations, and social media. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to understand participants' experiences of PA, BI, and HRQL. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using interpretive description. The participants were YA males (n = 7) with a mean age of 32.7 ± 4.0 years. Themes included a loss of identity due to cancer, building autonomy and identity using PA, and the "should" behind BI. PA for YA males living with and beyond cancer may support them in rebuilding their identity and BI. The development of exercise oncology resources for YA males may consider addressing BI through education or exercise prescription programs, with the goal of enhancing HRQL.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of values acculturation and the influence of media on Asian American college women's overall body image. A sample of 59 Asian American women from two large universities completed self-report surveys, which included questions regarding values acculturation, media internalization, and overall body satisfaction. Results showed that Asian American women who identified more strongly with traditional Asian values reported higher levels of body image dissatisfaction. Further, Asian American women who reported higher internalization of media portrayals of beauty ideals reported higher body image dissatisfaction. Research and clinical recommendations are made to enhance psychologists' understanding of Asian American women's body image and acculturation.

Nowadays, women are plagued by body anxiety, and social media is gradually destroying women's confidence and deepening women's body image. It's not just teenage women, adult women are also suffering from body images. On social media, women are always troubled by body image and attacked by the outside world. The purpose of this paper is to determine how social media affects women's body image and to identify the types of women who are most influenced by it. This article provides the background information about social media and body image, and also consider the factors that social media influence women in daily life. The paper finds that most of female is struggle with body image and suffer from the body sham. It is clear that social media and body image force many women struggle with poor mental health, and even affect their physical health, in the end of the article, the solutions about addressing the body image in social media, family and individual are provided. Through this article, women's mental health and body anxiety will be paid attention to, and hopefully more women will come out of body anxiety. Future research should focus more comprehensively on women's body image, such as life habits, age, interests and hobbies.

&lt;b&gt;Background&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt; Parents are integral social agents in children’s physical activity choices and involvement providing direct (feedback) and indirect (providing opportunities) competence information as well as multiple levels of support for activity engagement. Research is scant on parent perceptions and/or expectations specific to physical competencies and activity experiences among children with disabilities. The objective of this study was to capture parent perceptions of their child’s physical competencies and physical activity experiences and any changes in perceptions as their child navigated learning cycling skills.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Participants and procedure&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt; Parents/guardians who had children enrolled in an adapted cycling camp participated in the pre- and post-focus group discussions (N = 14). Children’s disabilities were developmental delay, Down syndrome, and autism spectrum disorder. Questions focused on parent perceptions about their child’s physical activity experiences and thoughts and feelings about those experiences.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Results&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt; Main themes emerged from pre- and post-camp sessions. Pre-camp themes highlighted the child’s past physical activity involvement (ex. barriers, opportunities). Incentives and motivations to participation and diminished perceptions of their child’s abilities were the other main themes. Post-camp themes revealed child’s reactions to the camp experience, effective pedagogy, benefits for learning to cycle and parent perceptions for child’s success.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Conclusions&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt; Introducing children with disabilities to physical activities that are both challenging and provide successful experiences contribute positively to parents’ perceptions and expectations for activity. Parents see the benefits of effective pedagogy for learning physical skills, importance of adapted equipment in skill acquisition, competence, and confidence. Parents can be hopeful in future physical activity choices and opportunities for their children.

This study explored the daily life physical activity (PA) experiences of 11 adolescent girls living in a rural community in the Northwest of the United States. This qualitative study employed visual methods to explore adolescent girls’ PA experiences in their daily lives. Specifically, this study used visual diaries and photo-elicitation interviews to capture girls’ PA experiences. Data from this study revealed two distinct PA patterns among the 11 participants: casual movers and sporty girls. Casual movers have a much less structured approach to PA. They engage in a wide variety of PA types—mostly individual forms of PA and PA geared towards recreation. They describe fun, enjoyment, and task mastery as their main motivations to be physically active. Casual movers often engage in PA with family members and are compelled to be active outdoors and in their homes or neighborhoods. In contrast, all five sporty girls belong to competitive sports teams and have a more structured PA routine. They seek performance improvement and have high perceptions of physical competence. Sporty girls value being active with their teammates and receive strong support from their families in the form of encouragement, role modeling, and financial/structural assistance. Sporty girls feel confident being active in their schools’ fields, courts, and gymnasiums, but also appreciate the outdoors environment. Findings from this study support the need for schools to increase access to PA opportunities that are not focused on skill or fitness performance, thus appealing to casual movers’ approach to physical movement.

Problems related to negative body image are very common among young women. In this study, we examined the relationship between women's body image and their sexual functioning over and above the effects of physical exercise and body mass index (BMI) in a sample of 214 university women. Low situational body image dysphoria and low body dissatisfaction were associated with high sexual assertiveness and sexual esteem, low sexual anxiety, and fewer sexual problems. Positive body image was significantly associated with better sexual functioning, even after controlling for BMI and exercise. Although related to body image, BMI and exercise did not predict sexual functioning. These results were interpreted as indicating that a woman's subjective body image is significantly related to her sexual functioning beyond the effects of actual body size and level of physical exercise.