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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05181280

Moms on Media Study

This research will explore the impact of digital technology, specifically social media, on the health behaviours of mothers in the postpartum period by conducting an experimental study to test the effect of social media messaging on body dissatisfaction, eating attitudes and behaviours, and physical activity intentions and behaviours among postpartum mothers. The primary objective is to determine the extent to which body image messaging targeting mothers, compared with the control, result in feelings of body dissatisfaction and poorer eating attitudes and behaviours, and increased physical activity intention immediately following the 5-day exposure period. The secondary objective is to determine the sustained impact of the body image messaging compared to control at 1-month follow-up.

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Key information

Conditions

Health Behavior Behavior

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Guelph

Guelph, Ontario, N1H 2W1, Canada

About this study

The postpartum period is a critical time for both maternal and child health. Body dissatisfaction is higher during the postpartum period compared to other periods of life and is strongly associated with disordered eating behaviours. Body dissatisfaction among mothers not only effects the health of mothers but can also negatively influence the eating attitudes and behaviours of their children.

Although research has shown that media images have a strong adverse influence of women's body dissatisfaction, most of this research has focused on traditional forms of media, such as magazines. Limited research has explored how messages and images on social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram, influence women's body dissatisfaction and disordered eating risk, and no studies have explored this association among mothers. This is a concern as nearly 90% of mothers use social media regularly. Thus, little is known about how the current media environment influences body dissatisfaction and eating behaviour during the postpartum period.

The proposed research will address this knowledge gap by conducting an experimental study to test the effect of social media messaging on body dissatisfaction, eating attitudes and behaviours, and physical activity intentions and behaviours among postpartum mothers. The primary objective is to determine the extent to which body image messaging targeting mothers, compared with the control, result in feelings of body dissatisfaction and poorer eating attitudes and behaviours, and increased physical activity intention immediately following the 5-day exposure period. The secondary objective is to determine the sustained impact of the body image messaging compared to control at 1-month follow-up.

This study will provide a much-needed understanding of the effect of digital technology on postpartum mothers' body dissatisfaction, eating attitudes and behaviours, and physical activity intentions and behaviours. Results will inform healthcare interventions, equipping clinicians with research-based evidence to support postpartum mothers in maintaining positive body image and healthy eating and physical activity attitudes and behaviours.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Can respond to surveys in English
  • Has a child 0-6 months old
  • Owns a smartphone

Exclusion criteria

  • History of anxiety or depression
  • Taking pharmacological treatments for anxiety or depression

Treatment and study plan

Intervention group

Other

Exposure session will consist of 15 social media "ideal body" message posts.

Control Group

Other

Exposure will consist of 15 social media posts on infant feeding tips.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Body Dissatisfaction at 5 days and 1 month

    Time frame: 5 days and 1 month

    Body dissatisfaction will be measured using the body satisfaction subscale from the Multidimensional Eating Disorder Inventory, a 9-item subscale that measures satisfaction with physical appearance. This subscale includes questions such as "I think my stomach is too big". This subscale has been validated among a diverse population of women, with good internal consistency. Response options are "never", "rarely", "sometimes", "often", "usually", and "always", and are coded as 1-6 respectively. Higher scores indicate higher levels of body dissatisfaction.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Eating Attitude at 5 days and 1 month

    Time frame: 5 days and 1 month

    Disordered eating attitudes will be measured using the validated Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), a 26 items scale that measures attitudes toward food, body, and eating. Response options for all questions are "never", "rarely", "sometimes", "often", "usually", "always" with higher scores indicating higher levels of disordered eating attitudes.

  2. Change in Eating Behaviour at 5 days and 1 month

    Time frame: 5 days and 1 month

    Disordered eating behaviours will be measured using the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (DEBQ), a 24-item questionnaire with 3 subscales that measures restrained eating, emotional eating (4-item version), and external eating. This well-established questionnaire was found to have good internal consistency among each of the 3 subscales (Cronbach's Alpha 0.80 - 0.95), has been used to examine the eating behaviours of mothers,49 and postpartum mothers, and has been validated among diverse populations. The DEBQ includes questions such as "how often do you refuse food and drink offered because you are concerned about your weight?". Response options range from never to very often are assigned a score between 1 and 5. Scored are summed for each of the subscales, with higher scores indicating more restrained eating, more emotional eating, and more external eating.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Guelph

Other

Collaborators

  • Canadian Foundation for Dietetic Research (CFDR)

Registry information

Official study title

Moms on Media Study: Testing the Influence of Social Media on the Health Behaviours of Mothers During the Postpartum Period

Acronym: MOMS

Important dates

Study start
2020
Primary completion
2021
Study completion
2021
First posted
Jan 6, 2022
Registry last updated
May 9, 2023

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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