Moms on Media Study (MOMS)

University of Guelph

Status: Completed

Conditions: Health Behavior

Treatments: Other: Control Group; Other: Intervention Group

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05181280

054798

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Full description

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.

Enrollment: 132 patients

Sex: Female

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

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

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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132 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Intervention

Experimental group

Description:

Treatment: Standardized body image messaging targeting mothers. Following a similar model that has been used in previous studies testing the effect of traditional media exposure on body image and disordered eating behaviour, participants randomized to the treatment condition will have 1 exposure session per day over 5 days. Each exposure session will consist of 15 social media body message posts. Body image messaging targeting mothers will consist of mothers with "ideal" postpartum bodies and captions trending over the past 24 months.

Treatment:

Other: Intervention Group

Control

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Control: Standardized infant feeding tips messaging. Participants randomized to the control will have 1 exposure session/day over 5 days. Each exposure will consist of 15 social media posts on infant feeding tips.

Treatment:

Other: Control Group