Pro-ana versus Pro-recovery: A Content Analytic Comparison of Social Media Users’ Communication about Eating Disorders on Twitter and Tumblr

Dawn B. Branley; Judith Covey

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01356

Pro-ana versus Pro-recovery: A Content Analytic Comparison of Social Media Users’ Communication about Eating Disorders on Twitter and Tumblr

Dawn B. Branley, Judith Covey

Psychology Department

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

68 Citations (Scopus)

51 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Objectives: To compare how people communicate about eating disorders on two popular social media platforms – Twitter and Tumblr.

Materials and Methods: Thematic analysis was conducted to characterize the types of communications posted, and a content analysis was undertaken of between-platform differences.

Results: Three types of content (pro-ana, anti-ana, and pro-recovery) were posted on each platform. Overall, across both platforms, extreme pro-ana posts were in the minority compared to anti-ana and pro-recovery. Pro-ana posts (including ‘thinspiration’) were more common on Twitter than Tumblr, whereas anti-ana and pro-recovery posts were more common on Tumblr.

Conclusion: The findings have implications for future research and health care relating to the treatment and prevention of eating disorders. Developers of future interventions targeting negative pro-ana content should remain aware of the need to avoid any detrimental impact on positive online support.

Original language	English
Journal	Frontiers in Psychology
Volume	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01356
Publication status	Published - 11 Aug 2017

Keywords

eating disorders
pro-ana
Individual differences
mixed methods

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10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01356Licence: CC BY

ArticleFinal published version, 240 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Pro-ana versus Pro-recovery: A Content Analytic Comparison of Social Media Users{\textquoteright} Communication about Eating Disorders on Twitter and Tumblr",

abstract = "Objectives: To compare how people communicate about eating disorders on two popular social media platforms – Twitter and Tumblr.Materials and Methods: Thematic analysis was conducted to characterize the types of communications posted, and a content analysis was undertaken of between-platform differences.Results: Three types of content (pro-ana, anti-ana, and pro-recovery) were posted on each platform. Overall, across both platforms, extreme pro-ana posts were in the minority compared to anti-ana and pro-recovery. Pro-ana posts (including {\textquoteleft}thinspiration{\textquoteright}) were more common on Twitter than Tumblr, whereas anti-ana and pro-recovery posts were more common on Tumblr.Conclusion: The findings have implications for future research and health care relating to the treatment and prevention of eating disorders. Developers of future interventions targeting negative pro-ana content should remain aware of the need to avoid any detrimental impact on positive online support.",

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AU - Covey, Judith

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AB - Objectives: To compare how people communicate about eating disorders on two popular social media platforms – Twitter and Tumblr.Materials and Methods: Thematic analysis was conducted to characterize the types of communications posted, and a content analysis was undertaken of between-platform differences.Results: Three types of content (pro-ana, anti-ana, and pro-recovery) were posted on each platform. Overall, across both platforms, extreme pro-ana posts were in the minority compared to anti-ana and pro-recovery. Pro-ana posts (including ‘thinspiration’) were more common on Twitter than Tumblr, whereas anti-ana and pro-recovery posts were more common on Tumblr.Conclusion: The findings have implications for future research and health care relating to the treatment and prevention of eating disorders. Developers of future interventions targeting negative pro-ana content should remain aware of the need to avoid any detrimental impact on positive online support.

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KW - Individual differences

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DO - 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01356

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Pro-ana versus Pro-recovery: A Content Analytic Comparison of Social Media Users’ Communication about Eating Disorders on Twitter and Tumblr

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Keywords

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