Chowdhury N, Rabel EJ, Ferraz D, Lyons A, Del Rio Carral M
Psychol Health . 2026 Mar 15:1-19
PMID: 41834320
ABSTRACT
Objective: Located in French-speaking Switzerland, this study investigated seventeen young women's talk about how their social media practices impact their (psychological) health and wellbeing.
Methods and measures: Embedded within a critical perspective in health psychology, we explored the discursive moves and resources participants mobilised to construct 'good' and 'bad' subject positions. Drawing on the concept of postfeminist healthism, our aim was to explore the normative and affective underpinnings of young women's sense-making activities on social media use to make visible the work on the self that is required of them to claim valued identities in the digital space.
Results: Participants in this study constructed 'unhealthy' and 'healthy' use across three continuums: (i) excessive versus controlled social media use; (ii) caring too much versus being a detached social media user; (iii) naïve versus aware social media use.
Conclusion: We discuss the implications of integrating a gendered identity perspective into theorising and designing health interventions with regards to social media.
