RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article
T1 Health models and the quest for the ‘healthy’ body. analysis of adolescents’ experiences using Instagram
A1 Hortigüela Alcalá, David
A1 Pérez Pueyo, Ángel
A1 González Calvo, Gustavo
A1 Sánchez Miguel, Pedro Antonio
K1 Physical education
K1 Health
K1 Instagram
K1 Social influence
K1 High school
K1 Adolescentes-Salud e higiene
K1 Teenagers-Health and hygiene
K1 Redes sociales en Internet
K1 Online social networks
AB What counts as a the preferred/culturally dominant model of health is clearly influenced by political, social and cultural aspects, as well as by the media. This has a direct impact on adolescents, since there is a greater pressure to achieve the canons established as ideals. Young people’s ideas about health are shaped by their personal circumstances and their social and cultural contexts. As research has indicated, social media plays a major role in this process, with Instagram one of the most popular sites/platforms. In this paper we provide the results of qualitative study designed to examine of adolescents’ experiences of using Instagram in relation to the field of health. The theory of social influence is used as the theoretical axis. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight Spanish students (5 girls and 3 boys) who acknowledged using Instagram to improve their healthy habits participated in the study. Three categories of responses were identified from an analysis of the interview data: a) ‘My conception of health’; b) ‘Instagram and healthy living’; and c) ‘Why do I follow these influencers?’. The main conception of health for participants was associated with having a socially ideal body. Participants described how they used Instagram for the large amount of audiovisual content it offers, in many cases prioritizing social success over health outcomes. This research helps to understand the role influencers have in translating and promoting health messages and meanings.
PB Routledge
SN 1357-3322
YR 2025
FD 2025
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10259/12143
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10259/12143
LA eng
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Burgos
RD 25-sep-2026