Study suggests exercisers who post their fitness routines to Facebook have psychological problems

A recently released study suggests that exercisers who regularly post their gym activities to Facebook and people who share gym selfies on social media are more likely to have psychological problems.

Psychologists at Brunel University in the United Kingdom, say those who brag about diets, exercise, and accomplishments (though unintentional) are typically narcissists. From surveys designed to measure the ‘Big Five’ personality traits (extroversion, neuroticism, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness), researchers noticed interesting patterns when they studied the survey results alongside facebook usage data of the 555 participants.

It turns out that people who score high point for narcissistic personality traits are keen on documenting their gym activities. This behavior is motivated by the need for attention and validation from the Facebook community, a trait which is present in every narcissist.

Narcissists want to be recognised, and getting Facebook likes and comments provides the attention they crave.

Brunel University Psychology Professor Dr. Tara Marshall explained “although our results suggest that narcissists’ bragging pays off because they receive more likes and comments to their status updates, it could be that their Facebook friends politely offer support while secretly disliking such egotistical displays.

“Greater awareness of how one’s status updates might be perceived by friends could help people to avoid topics that annoy more than they entertain.”

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