Abstract
The present study looks at how exposure to Instagram #fitspiration images affects self‐rated sexual attractiveness among women. An experimental pre‐test/post‐test control group design was implemented. Four hundred and forty‐two female undergraduate students (mean age of 22.06 ± 2.15 years) were randomly exposed to either fitspiration (N = 233) or travel Instagram images (N = 209). Well known self‐report measures of Instagram use, body satisfaction, and self‐perceived sexual attractiveness were completed. The results showed that viewing fitspiration models on Instagram was more likely to lower self‐perceived sexual attractiveness among women than travel images. This effect was mediated by body satisfaction. The present findings built upon previous research that focuses on the detrimental effects of exposure to appearance‐focused Instagram profile images on body image satisfaction by showing that exposure to Instagram fitspiration might also influence women perceived sexual attractiveness. Negative consequences of social media exposure on women’s sexual well‐being need to be further investigated.
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