In modern Western society, women commonly encounter media that conflates appearance and health. However, this phenomenon is seldom explored qualitatively from the perspective of the women who encounter and internalize these messages. The present study describes how a group of women perceive appearance, health, and wellness ideals promoted through media and social media as well as how they attempted to challenge and negotiate these. Qualitative data were collected from in-depth semi-structured interviews with 25 women (aged 22–72 years) who embraced a holistic health perspective in Perth, Western Australia. Thematic analysis of the data revealed multiple overarching themes, including the women’s recognition of unrealistic ideals in the media, the potential for harmful social comparisons, their desire to achieve the appearance of health and wellness, and the use of various strategies to modify their exposure to such media and uphold a positive body image. Some participants were challenged by media claiming a more “holistic” orientation in which ideals of appearance, health, and wellness are closely intertwined. The findings from our research provide timely guidance on mechanisms to promote positive body image amidst a rapidly changing media landscape, including the use of critical media literacy and social media literacy interventions. Such interventions should encourage critical appraisal of appearance ideals that are promoted under the guise of health and wellness.

中文翻译：

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“我们不断地将自己与某些东西进行比较”：在外貌、健康和健康的纽带中探索身体形象、媒体和社交媒体的理想

在现代西方社会，女性通常会遇到将外表和健康混为一谈的媒体。然而，很少从遇到并内化这些信息的女性的角度对这种现象进行定性探讨。本研究描述了一群女性如何看待通过媒体和社交媒体宣传的外貌、健康和健康理念，以及她们如何尝试挑战和协商这些理念。定性数据是通过对 25 名在西澳大利亚州珀斯接受整体健康观点的女性（22-72 岁）进行的深入半结构化访谈收集的。对数据的专题分析揭示了多个总体主题，包括女性对媒体中不切实际的理想的认识、有害社会比较的可能性、她们希望获得健康和健康的外表、以及使用各种策略来改变他们对此类媒体的曝光并维护积极的身体形象。一些参与者受到媒体的挑战，他们声称更“整体”的方向是外观、健康和健康的理想紧密交织在一起。我们的研究结果为在快速变化的媒体环境中促进积极身体形象的机制提供了及时的指导，包括使用批判性媒体素养和社交媒体素养干预措施。此类干预措施应鼓励对打着健康和保健的幌子提倡的外貌理想进行批判性评价。和健康紧密相连。我们的研究结果为在快速变化的媒体环境中促进积极身体形象的机制提供了及时的指导，包括使用批判性媒体素养和社交媒体素养干预措施。此类干预措施应鼓励对打着健康和保健的幌子提倡的外貌理想进行批判性评价。和健康紧密相连。我们的研究结果为在快速变化的媒体环境中促进积极身体形象的机制提供了及时的指导，包括使用批判性媒体素养和社交媒体素养干预措施。此类干预措施应鼓励对打着健康和保健的幌子提倡的外貌理想进行批判性评价。