The Effect of Social Media Use on Eating Behaviours

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Food Photography; Non-Food Photography; No Phone Use
• Interventions: Behavioral: Non-Food Photography; Behavioral: Food Photography; Behavioral: No Phone Use

• Registration Number: NCT03346785
• Lead Sponsor: Yale-NUS College

Brief Summary

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 experience sampling method.

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. This registration describes the experimental experience sampling method.

The study will experimentally control participants' engagement in the act of food photography, and measure their eating behaviours. Participants will be recruited via online platforms and participate in the study for one week. At the beginning of the week, they will be required to fill in some online questionnaires (e.g. demographic information). For the rest of the week, they will be prompted at specific time points in the day via smartphone to engage in food photography/ non-food photography/ no phone use, and then answer some questions about their eating behaviours.

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 Timeline

• Study Start: 2017-08-28
• Status Verified: 2017-11
• Study First Submitted: 2017-11-15
• Study First Submitted QC: 2017-11-15
• Last Update Submitted: 2017-11-15
• Study First Posted: 2017-11-17
• Last Update Posted: 2017-11-17
• Primary Completion: 2018-04-06
• Study Completion: 2018-04-06

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

• Symptoms / history of any medical or psychiatric conditions
• Allergies to food products
• History of eating disorders
• 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 & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Non-Food Photography	Non-Food Photography	Participants will engage in non-food photography on their smart phones while eating
Food Photography	Food Photography	Participants will engage in food photography on their smart phones while eating
No Phone Use	No Phone Use	Participants will not use their smart phones while eating

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Enjoyment of food consumed	15 minutes	Self-reported rating between 1-7, where 1 is not at all and 7 is very much

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Amount of food consumed	15 minutes	Self-reported rating between 1-7, where 1 is less than normal and 7 is more than normal

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Yale-NUS College; 🇸🇬 Singapore, Singapore