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Chinese TikTok (Douyin) challenges and body image concerns: a pilot study.

Authors :
Hu, Shuchen
Gan, Jasmine
Shi, Victoria
Krug, Isabel
Source :
Journal of Eating Disorders; 7/3/2023, Vol. 11 Issue 1, p1-21, 21p
Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

Background: Social media content on Western platforms promoting thinness, or thinspiration, has been found to negatively affect body image perception of users. Less is known about non-Western social media use and its effects on body image concerns. Chinese TikTok, known as Douyin, is a popular short video platform with 600 million daily active users. Recent trends on Douyin encourage users to demonstrate thinness through participation in 'body challenges'. This paper argues that such content is comparable to thinspiration, however, to date hardly any research has been undertaken on these challenges. Thus, this pilot study aimed to analyse the content of three viral challenges and investigate their impact on Douyin users. Methods: Thirty most viewed videos were collected for three challenges (N = 90): the Coin challenge, the A4 Waist challenge, and the Spider leg challenge. Videos were coded for variables relating to thin idealisation, including thin praise, sexualisation and objectification, and analysed through content analytic methods. Video comments (N ≈ 5500) were analysed through thematic analysis, and main themes were identified. Results: Preliminary findings showed that participants who objectified their bodies to a greater extent expressed more negative body image concerns. In addition, comments on the videos had themes of thin praise, self-comparison, and promotion of dieting behaviours. In particular, videos of the A4 Waist challenge were found to incite more negative self-comparison in viewers. Conclusion: Preliminary findings suggest all three challenges promote the thin ideal and encourage body image concerns. Further research about the broader impact of body challenges is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20502974
Volume :
11
Issue :
1
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Journal of Eating Disorders
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
164679775
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-023-00829-5