How does Instagram and YouTube affect individual self-care? – University of Klagenfurt

Do images and videos of athletic bodies on social media platforms encourage people to exercise and do good for themselves or create stress? Anna Aschbacher examined the role these media play in individual self-care. Yesterday, November 22, 2022, you were awarded the honorary prize of the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research for your work.

Muscles of steel under tanned skin, smiling faces: Fitspiration’s influencers abound on Instagram and YouTube. They present their bodies and the workouts that underlie them. They spread a healthy diet, which often follows very specific paradigms. On the other hand, there are those who question the cult of the body with no less publicity: the body, supposedly imperfect according to the norms, presents itself Body-positivity put in a positive light and on trends like Instagram versus reality The ideals of the body as well as modified and inauthentic representations of the body are questioned.

Anna Aschbacher has a master’s degree in “Media, Communication and Culture” and in her master’s thesis addressed the importance of Instagram and YouTube for individual self-care. The basis for this was formed by the theories of the sociologist Michel Foucault on self-care, which date back to antiquity. “For the Roman and Greek philosophers meant the so-called worry about yourselfthat one deals with oneself through various self-practices to build a relationship with oneself and take care of the health of the soul. The individual exercises also included physical exercises,” says Anna Aschbacher. In doing so, she also bridges the gap between Socrates, Seneca and Epicurus and the influencers of the present. “If you practice fitness, sports and yoga for yourself and your health, that comes under self-care. If you’re doing it to impress others with your muscles and slim body, aligning with ideals tends to create negative behavior patterns and stress,” continues Anna Aschbacher.

Anna Aschbacher conducted interviews and conducted a comprehensive media analysis. Your subjects kept a media diary, which Anna Aschbacher rated. In addition, visualizations were carried out and short questionnaires were completed. Her findings were quite surprising, as she tells us: “I thought Fitspiration posts had a strong influence on media recipients who wanted to conform to body norms. But it turns out the trend is more towards self-care, as intended by Foucault.” A healthy mind in a healthy body often critically questions media representations. Even under photos of perfect bodies, the captions read contradictory things: you should listen to yourself, know your limits, appreciate your body. Average to extreme fitness ideals are very popular.

Anna Aschbacher, now 24, came to Klagenfurt as a first-generation student from Rennweg am Katschberg to study here. After completing her master’s degree, she now took up a position as an assistant professor in the Department of Marketing and International Management. In the coming years, you will be addressing the dimensions of work-life balance and their effects on labor productivity in the context of the modern world of work. As a member of Generation Z, she also combines the currently much-discussed contradictions in her working personality. Anna Aschbacher is goal-oriented and consistent, she not only wants to do everything as quickly as possible, but also in the best possible way. At the same time, one should not neglect one’s own needs and priorities: “I too am of the opinion that working hours can be reduced if one can afford it financially. This way you have more time for yourself, for the family and friends, for everything that is important to you personally and what you enjoy doing”. endless work, work life balance and challenging her high demands on herself and her performance, she tells us. She draws the conclusion: “Every time I have faced challenges, worked hard and consistently, I have also seen that it was worth it.” Her achievements are now recognized with the honorary award of the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research, which was awarded to her on November 22, 2022.