TY - JOUR
T1 - The Paradoxical Outcomes of Observing Others’ Exercise Behavior on Social Network Sites
T2 - Friends’ Exercise Posts, Exercise Attitudes, and Weight Concern
AU - Burke, Tricia J.
AU - Rains, Stephen A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018, © 2018 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2019/3/21
Y1 - 2019/3/21
N2 - This study examined the implications of observing others’ exercise behavior on social network sites (SNSs). Social cognitive theory and social comparison theory were used to make predictions about the conditions under which individuals’ (N = 232) exposure to exercise-related SNS posts from others in their social network were related to their weight concerns and exercise attitudes. The results revealed a paradox in which observing others’ exercise posts was associated with both adaptive and maladaptive responses. The number of exercise-related SNS posts received from members of respondents’ social networks was associated with greater weight concern, and this relationship was stronger among respondents who viewed exercise-related posts from network members who were similar to respondents. Yet, among respondents who had a tendency to make appearance-related upward social comparisons, the number of others’ exercise-related SNS posts received was associated with pro-exercise attitudes.
AB - This study examined the implications of observing others’ exercise behavior on social network sites (SNSs). Social cognitive theory and social comparison theory were used to make predictions about the conditions under which individuals’ (N = 232) exposure to exercise-related SNS posts from others in their social network were related to their weight concerns and exercise attitudes. The results revealed a paradox in which observing others’ exercise posts was associated with both adaptive and maladaptive responses. The number of exercise-related SNS posts received from members of respondents’ social networks was associated with greater weight concern, and this relationship was stronger among respondents who viewed exercise-related posts from network members who were similar to respondents. Yet, among respondents who had a tendency to make appearance-related upward social comparisons, the number of others’ exercise-related SNS posts received was associated with pro-exercise attitudes.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85041008307&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85041008307&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/10410236.2018.1428404
DO - 10.1080/10410236.2018.1428404
M3 - Article
C2 - 29364740
AN - SCOPUS:85041008307
SN - 1041-0236
VL - 34
SP - 475
EP - 483
JO - Health Communication
JF - Health Communication
IS - 4
ER -