Influence of Exposure to Facebook Pregnancy Photoshoots on Perceived Body Image of Pregnant and Postpartum Women in Ilorin Metropolis
Chapter One
Objective of the study
The objectives of the study are;
- To ascertain the effect of exposure to facebook pregnancy photoshoot on perceived body image of pregnant women in Ilorin
- To ascertain the effect of exposure to facebook pregnancy photoshoot on perceived body image of postpartum women in Ilorin metropolis
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Body Image in the Perinatal Period
Women experience dramatic physical changes in the perinatal period, which may impact body image during pregnancy or in the future (e.g., Liechty & Yarnal, 2010). Body image refers to feelings, attitudes, and evaluations of one’s own body that include perceptions of the body as a whole as well as perceptions regarding specific areas of the body (Grogan, 2008). Poor body image is of particular concern during the perinatal period because it has been connected with a host of negative outcomes such as increased risk of depression and decreased perceptions of overall well-being (e.g., DiPietro, Millet, Costigan, Gurewitsch, & Caulfield, 2003). Women with poor body image also have a higher tendency toward unhealthy dieting and smoking during pregnancy, which increases health risks for both mother and baby (Duncombe, Wertheim, Skouteris, Paxton, & Kelly, 2008). Existing research has produced inconsistent findings regarding the nature of body image concerns during the perinatal period (Tiggemann, 2004). Some research has suggested that body image concerns may increase during this time (Clark, Skouteris, Wertheim, Paxton, & Milgrom, 2009; Rallis, Skouteris, Wertheim, & Paxton, 2007; Skouteris, Carr, Wertheim, Paxton, & Duncombe, 2005), and other research has suggested that pregnant women experience improved body image when compared with their prepregnancy body image (Loth, Bauer, Wall, Berge, & Neumark-Sztainer, 2011). The difficulty in understanding body image across the perinatal period may be due, in part, to the vast number of factors that influence body image. Skouteris and colleagues (2005) found that a number of social and psychological factors including depression, social comparisons with others, and perceived societal pressures to be thin were all predictors of body image concerns during pregnancy. The current study focuses on media portrayals of women as a social factor that may influence body image during the perinatal period.
Media and Women
Portrayals of Women in Media
A host of recent studies has found that women are misrepresented in a number of ways in the media. For example, the journal Sex Roles devoted two special issues to examining how women are portrayed in the media (Rudy, Popova, & Linz, 2010, 2011). A compilation of 20 content analyses revealed that women are typically underrepresented in the media (in terms of frequency as compared to men), are often sexualized either by dress or by body language, and are often shown in subordinate roles. Furthermore, in the United States, depictions of women in the media often reinforce traditional gender stereotypes for women and an unrealistic ideal of women’s bodies (e.g., Collins, 2011).
Effects of Media on Women
Women are likely to internalize the thin-ideal portrayed in the media, which overrepresents and glorifies a very thin body type (e.g., Zhang, Dixon, & Conrad, 2010). Most women do not meet this thin-ideal, and a number of studies have found that exposure to such images can be detrimental to women’s physical and mental health (e.g., Grabe et al., 2008). Exposure to thin-ideal media is thought to promote poor body image as women compare their own bodily appearance to that of unrealistic images, which in turn may lead to a host of negative outcomes (Harper & Tiggemann, 2008). Multiple meta-analyses have found that exposure to thin-ideal media was associated with poor body image, poor self-esteem, depression, and increased dieting and propensity toward eating disorders (e.g., Grabe et al., 2008).
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitute of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
This study was carried to examine influence of exposure to Facebook Pregnancy photoshoot on perceived Body Image of pregnant and postpartum women in Ilorin Metropolis. Selected residents in Ilorin Metropolis form the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of eighty (80) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only seventy-seven (77) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 77 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain Influence of exposure to Facebook Pregnancy photoshoot on perceived Body Image of pregnant and postpartum women in Ilorin Metropolis. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of exposure to Facebook Pregnancy photoshoot on perceived Body Image of pregnant and postpartum women in Ilorin Metropolis.
Summary
This study was on Influence of exposure to Facebook Pregnancy photoshoot on perceived Body Image of pregnant and postpartum women in Ilorin Metropolis.. two objectives were raised which included; To ascertain the effect of exposure to facebook pregnancy photoshoot on perceived body image of pregnant women in Ilorin and to ascertain the effect of exposure to facebook pregnancy photoshoot on perceived body image of postpartum women in Ilorin metropolis. A total of 77 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from selected residents in Ilorin metropolis. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square statistical tool (SPSS).
Conclusion
this study examined media influences on body image during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Our experimental study revealed that pregnant women felt worse about their bodies after only five minutes of exposure to typical media portrayals of this period. We hope that media producers, health providers, communities, and women will come together to educate women and healthcare professionals about and address the pervasive messages regarding pregnancy and body image in our media culture.
Recommendation
The study advise that during pregnancy its not necessary to expose yourself on social media especially facebook to avoid unnecessary distraction and might put yourself in danger
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