When you think of exercising, you don't really want to think of puking, tears, and pain

Young adolescents' understanding of fitness and #fitspiration

Bibliographic Data

ID4228141
AuthorsBeth T Bell (0000-0002-6587-0336, York St John University), Nova Deighton-Smith (0000-0003-0438-1675, Leeds Beckett University), Megan Hurst (0000-0002-2662-3615, University of Sussex)
Year2021
Volume26
Issue7
Pages1046-1060
Publication date2021-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Health Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1359-1053 • E-ISSN: 1461-7277
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/1359105319869798
PMID31402700
OpenAlexW2968441129
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited50

Adolescents access information about fitness, including content labelled as #fitspiration, through social media. A total of 77 adolescents (mean age = 12.49; standard deviation = 0.55; girls = 27) participated in semi-structured focus groups to explore their perspectives on #fitspiration and fitness more broadly. Through inductive thematic analysis, four themes were developed: (1) fitness enhances physical function and appearance, but these are not always linked; (2) fitness is transformative but requires hard work; (3) fitness should be an intrinsically motivated personal choice; and (4) pain in the pursuit of fitness. Findings highlight young adolescents' complex understandings of fitness negotiated through their critical interpretation of #fitspiration

Developmental psychology · Fitness function · Physical fitness · Physical therapy · Qualitative research · Sociology · Thematic analysis · Transformative learning · Computer Science · Eating Disorders and Behaviors · Media Influence and Health · Medicine · Obesity and Health Practices · Psychology · Social Psychology

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