Is digital detox and mindfulness a game-changing combination for Instagram use and body image outcomes? Results from an experimental intervention study

Instagram use has been linked to body image concerns. However, voluntarily abstaining from social media ("digital detox") as a strategy to mitigate this association has yielded mixed results. This raises the question of whether a complementary problem-focused intervention can strengthen the benefits of abstinence on body image outcomes. Building on this premise, the present one-week experimental pre-post intervention study examined the potential synergistic effect of a digital detox from Instagram, combined with a mindfulness intervention, on three outcomes-body shape concerns, drive for muscularity, and appearance evaluation-among young adults aged 18-34. Mindfulness was selected as an intentional action-based strategy that has previously shown benefits for body image satisfaction. Participants (N = 120; 59.8% female) were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: mindfulness plus detox, detox only, or control. Unlike the control group, participants in both intervention groups refrained from Instagram use for one week, while those in the mindfulness group additionally engaged in daily mindfulness meditations. Significant Time × Group interactions emerged for body shape concerns and drive for muscularity. The mindfulness group showed reductions in both outcomes, whereas the detox-only group showed reductions in body shape concerns alone. Within-group analyses further indicated significant changes across all body image outcomes in the mindfulness condition. As anticipated, the control group showed no changes over time. Overall, these findings provide promising evidence for the added value of combining digital detox and mindfulness as feasible lifestyle interventions to promote healthier body image among young people.