Navigating the intersection of instagram and elite female distance runners: A study on body image, performance, and social media influence

Abstract

Instagram, a globally popular photo and video-sharing social media platform, has revolutionized the way people connect, communicate, and inspire each other across diverse communities. The platform provides a space not only for casual interaction but also for promoting various lifestyle trends, including fitness and wellness. One of the emerging trends deeply embedded in Instagram’s culture is fitspiration (a combination of fitness and inspiration), which features images and videos of fit individuals, particularly women, engaging in exercise routines and showcasing a healthy lifestyle (Abena, 2013). The main objective of the fitspiration trend is to motivate and inspire other women to adopt an active, healthy way of living. However, alongside its positive aspirations, the trend has also sparked concerns about its unintended consequences, especially on mental and physical health. Each day, millions of women are exposed to countless fitspiration posts on Instagram, allowing them access to a constant stream of idealized images of athletic and toned bodies. While this content is intended to encourage women to pursue fitness, it can inadvertently contribute to negative self-perception, body dissatisfaction, and other issues related to body image. The accessibility of these images, often without critical reflection on their potential impacts, has led many women to internalize narrow beauty standards that emphasize thinness, muscularity, and an idealized form of fitness that is difficult to achieve for most.