Health and wellness influencers linked to higher exercise and diet, but lower mental health
A recent study published in the Journal of Psychological Research on Cyberspace has revealed a complex impact of health and wellness influencers on their followers. While followers of these influencers have shown increased exercise and fruit and vegetable intake, they also report lower mental health.
The study surveyed 1,022 young adults aged 18–25 across the UK, United States, and New Zealand, examining their social media usage, dietary and exercise habits, and mental health.
Positive Impact on Diet and Exercise
The research highlighted that followers of health influencers engage in more vigorous exercise and consume more fruits and vegetables compared to non-followers. This suggests that influencers can positively impact physical health behaviors.
Mental Health Concerns
However, the study also found that while these followers reported better overall wellbeing, they exhibited higher levels of distress and low mood compared to those who did not follow health influencers. This paradox may be partly due to the wellbeing index, which includes aspects of physical vitality such as feeling “energetic” and “enthusiastic,” disproportionately represented among healthier individuals.
The finding on increased distress aligns with previous research, suggesting negative effects from following health influencers, possibly due to upward social comparison.
Differences Between Influencer Types
The study differentiated between followers of exercise/fitness influencers and those following food/diet influencers. A significant finding was that following food/diet influencers was linked to higher distress levels, whereas following exercise/fitness influencers did not show the same strong correlation.
A general trend emerged: among health influencer followers, those engaging in more intense health behaviors experienced more distress. This could indicate that followers are aware of the benefits of exercise and use it to combat pre-existing depressive symptoms, or they may engage in compulsive exercise behaviors, leading to increased distress.
Conclusion
The research concluded that while health and wellness influencers may promote physical health, they do not necessarily enhance happiness and mood. Further investigation is needed to fully understand the psychological impact of following health influencers before recommending them as a healthy behavior management strategy.