Negative Affect as a Mediator Between Exposure to Fitspiration and Thinspiration and Disordered Eating Behaviors: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study

Objective: Although social media use, such as Instagram, has been associated with ED pathology, mechanisms connecting social media use to disordered eating behaviors (DEBs) remain largely unevaluated. Based on Dual Process, Tripartite, and Affect Regulation models of ED pathology, we proposed a moderated mediation model evaluating impacts of exposure to fitspiration/thinspiration on Instagram. Method: We evaluated a hypothesized pathway from exposure to fitspiration/thinspiration (i.e., ED-salient content) on Instagram to disordered eating mediated by negative affect and tested individual differences in weight bias internalization, trait self-esteem, and trait self-comparison as moderators. We recruited 173 undergraduate women who reported engaging in DEBs on average at least once per week over the past 3 months. Participants completed a seven-day ecological momentary assessment protocol, during which they reported their ED-salient content exposure on Instagram, affect, and engagement in DEBs. Results: Multilevel modeling was used to assess moderated mediation. Negative affect partially mediated associations between viewing ED-salient content and subsequent engagement in objective binge eating and restricting but did not mediate the pathway to purging or excessive exercise. Higher weight bias internalization intensified the association between viewing ED-salient content and negative affect. Discussion: The association between viewing ED-salient content and engaging in objective binge eating and restricting may be a partial consequence of elevated negative affect; however, effects were small. Individuals with higher weight bias internalization may be more vulnerable to negative consequences from viewing ED-salient content. Findings suggested that reducing negative affect responses (e.g., via emotion regulation) could reduce negative consequences of viewing ED-salient content.