The Impact of Social Media on Dietary Patterns among University Students in the UK: A Quantitative Analysis
Legal basis of the Study: The University conducts research as part of its legislative mandate to serve the public. Under the legal foundation of public tasks that are in the public interest, data protection enables us to utilize personal data for research with the proper safeguards in place. A full statement of your rights can be found at www.shu.ac.uk/about-this-website/privacy-policy/privacy-notices/privacy-notice-for-research.
Opening Statement: You have been asked to participate in a study that examines how social media affects the dietary preferences of UK university students between the ages of 18 and 26. It is crucial to understand the purpose of the research and its scope before making a choice. Kindly read this carefully and if you wish you can talk about it with others.
Purpose of the Study: This study aims to investigate the ways in which social media sites (including YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and others) affect students' food preferences, eating habits and general dietary patterns. We are especially curious about the effects of social media content (food trends, influencers, and ads) on students' food choices, their relationship with food and whether or if there are any connections to Disordered Eating Behaviours.
Why am I asked to take part? Since you are a UK university student you have been invited to take part in this study. Since young adults are among the most frequent users of social media and may be influenced by the food information they see online, I am focusing on this demographic.
Do I have to take part? It is completely voluntary to participate in this survey. I recommend you to save a copy of this information sheet for your records if you decide to participate. You can opt out or withdraw at any point during the online survey, by shutting your browser down. After completion you will not be able to withdraw because data will be collected anonymously and no personal identifying information will be gathered.
What will I be required to do? You will be required to answer a set of questions in an online survey format. This will take about 15 minutes. The questionnaire will include socio-demographic questions about age, gender, level of education etc. A section of questions about your usage of social media, time spent, platform used and engagement with content etc. Next set of questions will be about impact of social media on food choices. Lastly, the EAT-8 questionnaire for the measure of disordered eating behaviour.
Where will this take place? The study will be conducted online. Because the survey is online, you may take it from any location with a computer, tablet or smartphone that has internet access.
How often will I have to take part, and for how long: There will be a one-time online survey for you to finish. The estimated time to complete the survey is 10-15 minutes, but there is no time limit, so you can take as much time as you need.
Are there any possible risks or disadvantages in taking part? Some participants may find the study's questions about eating habits, social media use, and dietary habits sensitive or private. Although the majority of people won't feel distressed, some questions—particularly those pertaining to disordered eating behaviours and body image—may make people uncomfortable if they have a history of disordered eating or body dissatisfaction. Additionally, a list of mental health and eating disorder support services will be supplied at the end of the survey in case you feel distressed or need support after completing it.
What are the possible benefits of taking part? Although there are no immediate personal advantages to taking part in this study, your input will advance our knowledge of how university students' eating habits are influenced by social media.
When will I have the opportunity to discuss my participation? If you wish to discuss your participation, please feel free to contact me c3074945@hallam.shu.ac.uk
Will anyone be able to connect me with what is recorded and reported? No, your answers will be kept private and anonymous. No personally identifiable information, like your name, email address, or student ID, will be gathered. Only the researcher and the supervisor will have access to the fully confidential raw data that is gathered, which will be kept on a secure SHU server inside a computer system with access only to researcher.
Who will be responsible for all of the information when this study is over? The data you provide will be handled by the research department at Sheffield Hallam University, and if required, it may be kept on file for reference reasons until the end of the academic year in July 2025.
Who will have access to it? Only the student researcher and their supervisor will have access to the data throughout the project. No one else will be given access to the data you submit.
What will happen to the information when this study is over? The researcher may retain the raw data until July 2025. Data may or may not be used in other research projects or shared with other individuals. Nevertheless, no one will be able to identify you because all answers are anonymous.
How long is the whole study likely to last? Data Collection will be from February 2025 to May 2025.
How will you use what you find out? The findings from this study will be used for academic research purposes which will contribute to Master’s dissertation of Public Health at Sheffield Hallam University. No specific responses will be identified because all results will be presented in aggregated form.
How can I find out about the results of the study? -To obtain a copy of the final results and to find out more about the study findings, please email me at c307494@hallam.shu.ac.uk. The results should be accessible by June 2025.
Details of who to contact if you have any concerns or if adverse effects occur after the study are given below.
Researcher/ Research Team Details:
Name: MOON LAD
E-mail: c3074945@hallam.shu.ac.uk
Department: Department of Public Health
Supervisor: Rebecca White
E-mail: rw2211@hallam.shu.ac.uk