Social media content, competence beliefs and locus of control: associations with well-being, food choice and adoption intention

Previous studies have found that exposure to body-positive and fitness-related social media content can influence body image, mood and health-related intentions, while social media exposure may also be associated with eating-related outcomes (Nelson et al., 2022; Pryde & Prichard, 2022; Wood & Pila, 2022). The aim of the study is to examine the influence of various types of social media content (fitness, body positivity and neutral content) on body-related self-image, food choices and the intention to adopt the content. Furthermore, the study analyzes the extent to which general and media-specific loci of control are associated with problematic smartphone use and whether they moderate or mediate the relationships between the content consumed and the variables under investigation. Participants are recurited through snowball sampling via the University mailing list and social media, without specific inclusion or exclusion criteria. The convenience sample is expected to consist primarily of university members. Enrolled students who are affected receive 1.5 hours of research participation credit. The randomized experiment uses pre- and post-measures in a single session conducted in a laboratory at the University. Participants are randomly assigned to one of three video conditions.