Taylor Swift on the Eras Tour concert at Sofi Stadium in Inglewood, August 9, 2023. (Photo credit: Paolo Villanueva)
In a new study conducted by researchers at the University of Vermont, Taylor Swift’s openness about her struggles with body image and disordered eating has been found to positively influence her fans’ attitudes and behaviors towards these issues. Published in the journal Social Science & Medicine, the research analyzed social media content to determine how Swift’s disclosures about her eating disorder have impacted her fans.
Taylor Swift, a globally renowned singer-songwriter, has long been recognized for her cultural impact, not only through her music but also through her public persona and advocacy. Throughout her career, Swift has candidly shared personal experiences and struggles, including her battles with body image and disordered eating.
In her 2020 Netflix documentary, “Miss Americana,” Swift revealed how these issues affected her, particularly during the promotion of her 2014 album, “1989.” She spoke openly about the pressure to conform to societal beauty standards and the resultant harmful behaviors she adopted.
Prior research has shown that celebrities can significantly impact their fans’ attitudes and behaviors, often negatively influencing body image and promoting unrealistic beauty standards. However, Swift’s openness about her personal challenges presented a unique opportunity to explore whether such disclosures could foster positive changes. The researchers wanted to examine whether Swift’s candid discussions about her eating disorder and body image issues could encourage healthier attitudes and behaviors among her fans.
The researchers selected two prominent social media platforms, TikTok and Reddit, known for their active Taylor Swift fan communities. These platforms provided a diverse range of fan interactions, with TikTok being video-based and Reddit being text-based.
To gather relevant data, the researchers searched for posts related to Taylor Swift, body image, and eating disorders. They used search terms like “Taylor Swift body image” on TikTok and “body image” and “eating disorders” on Reddit. The top 100 TikTok posts and the top 101 Reddit posts, along with their associated comments, were included in the analysis. This amounted to over 8,300 comments being reviewed. The posts were collected between October and November 2023.
The researchers employed a qualitative thematic analysis approach to code and analyze the posts and comments. They developed a codebook based on existing literature on body image, eating disorders, diet culture, parasocial relationships, and celebrity influence. The thematic analysis allowed the researchers to identify key themes and patterns in the fan reactions.
The analysis revealed several key themes regarding fans’ reactions to Taylor Swift’s openness about her struggles with body image and disordered eating. One of the most prominent themes was the admiration and relatability fans felt towards Swift.
Many fans expressed deep admiration for Swift’s bravery in sharing her personal struggles and often related her experiences to their own. This connection was particularly strong among fans who had battled similar issues, with numerous comments highlighting how Swift’s transparency helped them feel validated and inspired to seek recovery.
Another significant finding was the positive influence Swift’s disclosures had on her fans’ attitudes and behaviors. Fans frequently reported that Swift’s openness about her body image and eating disorder struggles encouraged them to adopt healthier attitudes towards their bodies and food. Many shared personal stories of how Swift’s messages had motivated them to seek help and work towards recovery. This finding suggests that Swift’s influence extended beyond mere admiration to tangible changes in fans’ lives.
“Our findings suggest that fans who felt highly connected to Swift were influenced to positively change their behaviors or attitudes around eating or their body image because of Swift’s disclosures and messages in her music,” explained study author Lizzy Pope, an associate professor of nutrition and food sciences.
“Fans seemed to take inspiration from the fact that Swift had recovered from disordered eating and subsequently appeared to be thriving,” added co-author Kelsey Rose, a clinical assistant professor.
However, the study also uncovered a recurring theme of objectification. Despite the positive influence, many fans continued to objectify Swift’s body, often under the guise of admiration or defense against criticism. This highlighted an ongoing challenge where even well-intentioned comments perpetuated body-focused narratives and objectification, underscoring the complexity of addressing body image issues in a celebrity-driven culture.
“Although in Miss Americana Swift says I’m so sick of being objectified, and it’s driven me to disordered eating, the fans were still commenting on her body. Even if it was meant to be positive, fans would still comment, which means that they didn’t completely internalize her message of, ‘please do not comment on people’s bodies anymore,’” said Pope.
The study also noted the impact of specific songs in Swift’s discography that addressed body image and disordered eating themes. Songs like “You’re On Your Own Kid” and “Tied Together With a Smile” resonated deeply with fans who had similar experiences, providing them with comfort and a sense of connection. Fans often referenced these songs to illustrate their own struggles and the support they felt through Swift’s music.
Lastly, the controversy surrounding the “Anti-Hero” music video, where Swift steps on a scale that reads “fat,” was a significant point of discussion among fans. While some defended Swift’s artistic expression, others felt the scene perpetuated anti-fat bias. This debate highlighted the complexities and potential pitfalls of addressing sensitive issues like body image in media, even when the intent is to share personal experiences.
The study had several limitations. The researchers could not ascertain the demographics of the social media users, which could affect the generalizability of the findings. Additionally, the analysis was limited to English-language posts, potentially missing perspectives from non-English-speaking fans. The focus on Taylor Swift fans, who are predominantly white millennial women, may also limit the applicability of the results to a broader audience.
Despite these limitations, the findings provide significant insights into the influence of Taylor Swift’s openness about her struggles with body image and disordered eating on her fans. Overall, the study highlights the powerful role that celebrity disclosures can play in shaping attitudes and behaviors.
“Taylor Swift can do more to change attitudes with a few sentences than we can do in our entire careers,” said Pope. “So, it’s important to study people that have that kind of impact. There is little doubt that if she chooses to be, Swift can be a powerful voice for health, wellness and more weight-inclusive practices that may move society closer to the idea of body liberation.”
The study, “‘It’s All Just F*cking Impossible:’ The Influence of Taylor Swift on Fans’ Body Image, Disordered Eating, and Rejection of Diet Culture,” was published July 6, 2024.
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