The Effect of Social Media on Eating Behaviours

This project aims to explore how social media use, in particular food photography, influences eating behaviours. It will be approached through three methods - a correlational experience sampling method, an experimental experience sampling method, and an experimental laboratory method. This registration describes the experimental laboratory method.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Food Photography; Non-Food Photography; No Phone Use
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Food Photography; Behavioral: Non-Food Photography; Behavioral: No Phone Use

Detailed Description

This project aims to explore how social media use, in particular food photography, influences eating behaviours.

The research question will be approached using a combination of methods. The first is the experience sampling method, where data is gathered from participants as they are going about their day-to-day lives. This method comprises two sub-sections - a correlational study, and an experimental study. The second approach is the experimental laboratory method, where participants will be randomly assigned to different conditions while given the opportunity to eat. This registration describes the experimental laboratory method.

Upon arrival at the lab, participants will first be required to fill in some online questionnaires (e.g. demographic information, mood rating scales). They will then be randomised to one of two conditions - to engage in food photography, or to engage in non-food photography - while eating some food and completing some rating scales. These photos will be taken with the intention of sharing on social media. Participants will then fill in some more online questionnaires, before leaving the lab. After the session, the amount of food consumed by the participants will be weighed.

As a control, all participants will be required to come back to the lab for a second visit one week later, where they will all complete the same eating and rating task, but without any phone use.

The expected outcome of the project is to collectively evaluate the data from the various methods to conclude how social media use, and in particular the act of food photography, influences the various aspects of eating behaviours.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 40
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Jean Liu, PhD; Phone Number: +65 6601 3694; Email: jeanliu@yale-nus.edu.sg

Study Locations

• Singapore
  • Singapore, Singapore, 138527
    • Recruiting
    • Yale-NUS College
    • Contact: Jean Liu, PhD; Email: jeanliu@yale-nus.edu.sg

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 25 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

- Instagram user

Exclusion Criteria:

• Symptoms / history of any medical or psychiatric conditions
• Allergies to food products
• History of eating disorders
• BMI: <18/ >28
• Excessive exercise (≥ 5 times a week of self-reported exercise)
• Currently on a special diet or deliberating restricting caloric intake
• Currently on a weight loss program

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Food Photography; On the first visit, participants will engage in food photography on their smart phones while eating. On the second visit, participants will not use their smart phones while eating.	Behavioral: Food Photography; Participants will engage in food photography on their smart phones while eating; Behavioral: No Phone Use; Participants will not use their smart phones while eating
Experimental: Non-Food Photography; On the first visit, participants will engage in non-food photography on their smart phones while eating. On the second visit, participants will not use their smart phones while eating.	Behavioral: Non-Food Photography; Participants will engage in non-food photography on their smart phones while eating; Behavioral: No Phone Use; Participants will not use their smart phones while eating

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Amount of food consumed	Weight of food after completing the lab session	12 minutes

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Enjoyment of food consumed	Self-reported rating between 1-10	12 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Yale-NUS College

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 28, 2017
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): April 6, 2018
• Study Completion (Anticipated): April 6, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 15, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 15, 2017
• First Posted (Actual): November 17, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 17, 2017
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 15, 2017
• Last Verified: November 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Social media; Technology; Photography; External eating
• Other Study ID Numbers: YNC-CPST-03

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No