Thinspiration and fitspiration in everyday life: An experience sampling study

We used experience sampling to examine thinspiration and fitspiration in the everyday lives of women and men. Undergraduates (N =108, 21% men) completed a 1-week smartphone-facilitated experience sampling protocol containing self-report measures of thinspiration and fitspiration exposure, body satisfaction, and affective functioning. Multi-level, gender-adjusted models examined the unique and interactive associations of exposure to thinspiration and fitspiration. Women reported a weekly average of 8.4 thinspiration exposures and 9.5 fitspiration exposures, while men reported 2.3 and 4.9 exposures, respectively. The median self-reported duration of each exposure was 2-3 min, with no difference in exposure duration between thinspiration and fitspiration. Unique thinspiration exposure was associated with lower body satisfaction, lower positive affect, and higher negative affect (Cohen's ds = vertical bar 0.07-0.09 vertical bar, small). Unique fitspiration exposure was associated with lower body satisfaction and positive affect (ds = vertical bar 0.03-0.04 vertical bar, small), but not negative affect. The pattern of associations for interactive exposure (i.e., exposure to both thinspiration and fitspiration) was near-identical to the pattern for unique thinspiration exposure (ds = vertical bar 0.06-0.08 vertical bar. We conclude that women and men exposed to thinspiration and fitspiration in their everyday lives may subsequently experience lower body satisfaction and poorer affective functioning. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.