The Influence of YouTube Food Content on Eating Disorder Symptomatology Scores of Female Adolescents
Open Access
- Author:
- Hararwala, Arwa
- Area of Honors:
- Nutritional Sciences
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Kathleen Loralee Keller, Thesis Supervisor
Alison D Gernand, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- YouTube
EAT-26
Adolescents
Body Dissatisfaction
Correlations
Food
Food Content
Eating Disorders
Media - Abstract:
- Background: Numerous studies have shown that viewing thin body images online can contribute to body dissatisfaction and disordered eating. According to the Tripartite model of eating disorders, the media is a key influencing factor. Because of the excessive amounts of time adolescents spend engaging with social media, it is critically important to understand how this may impact risk for eating disorders. Objectives: This study investigates the impact of food and health related YouTube content on eating disorder symptomology in young females between the ages of 18 and 19. The second objective was to determine the association between adolescent females’ body dissatisfaction, EAT-26, and YouTube viewing. The third objective tested whether there were race or ethnic differences in EAT-26 scores. Methodology & Participants: Data were collected from 300 adolescent females between the ages of 18 and 19 from the United States. They were given the survey through an online third-party survey distributing company, Qualtrics. A correlational statistical analysis was performed in order to identify any possible relationships between the independent variable (YouTube content consumption level) and the dependent variable (EAT-26 Score). Additionally, ANOVA tests, Pearson correlations, and t-tests were conducted to understand the association between YouTube content groups and EAT-26 scores. Summary of Results: Firstly, higher reported viewing of diet/health and fitness and learning was related to higher EAT-26 scores. Diet, health, and fitness content ANOVA results were F = 5.05, p = 0.008. The post-hoc Tukey test showed significant differences existed between those who watched 1-2 hours of content and those who watched 3+ hours of content (p = 0.007). Secondly, learning content ANOVA results were F = 3.90, p =0.02. The post-hoc Tukey test showed significant differences existed between those who watched 2-3 hours of content and those who watched 3+ hours of content (p = 0.025). Those who reported having higher levels of body dissatisfaction also had higher EAT-26 scores. The Pearson correlation between the EAT-26 and PACS scores was r = 0.632 with a p-value of < 0.01. The correlation between EAT-26 scores and Race, there was no relationship, with an r=–0.087, p=0.133. Conclusions/Implications: The results show us that two main YouTube categories were statistically related to participant’s EAT-26 scores: diet/health and fitness and learning. The results from the PACS analysis showed that the average body dissatisfaction in our participant pool was high, which is expected for adolescent females. Furthermore, we found that individuals who have a greater level of body dissatisfaction may be at a higher risk for developing eating disorder symptomology (as indicated by having a higher EAT-26 score). Finally, we can see that racial/ethnic differences within the U.S. do not affect EAT-26 scores.