Projects per year
Personal profile
Personal Statement
My primary area of research is health communication through social media.
I currently study how young people use social media and the influences this has on their body image. As social media platforms continue to grow and develop, this insight is very much needed in order to address young people's mounting concerns over their bodies and the repercussions for mental health.
I have also examined health-related peer-to-peer communication through online platforms and how it influences health attitudes and outcomes. And how hospitals in the United States use social media to communicate with their patients. I have also conducted research in international communication by surveying international journalists about disaster coverage by the media, and advertising, where I have studied viral videos and online customer reviews.
I work with various interdisciplinary groups on campus and am a fellow of the Centre for Health Policy. I am also the founder and coordinator of the Working Group on Body Image and Eating Disorders, which includes academics, clinicians, health charity professionals, bloggers and people with lived experiences. We work on research and public engagement around social media, body image and creating a healthier and more inclusive online environment for young people. Watch our video here, which explores how young people use and feel about social media.
Most recently, I've contributed to several advisory groups on young people and body image, which have produced reports, recommendations and interventions that aim to address this topic. Among them is the Scottish Government's Healthy Body Image for Children and Young People Advisory Group, which produced a detailed report with recommendations in March 2020.
I give frequent interviews to the media, public talks, and presentations at schools, clinicians’ groups, non-profits, etc. Watch my TEDx talk on the topic.
I welcome applications from PhD students interested in health communication, digital media/social media and health, body image/eating disorders, mental health.
I currently supervise students working on the following topics:
- the concept of the ideal beach body and its relation to women's body image concerns (in collaboration with Marketing)
- how organisations engage in crisis communication via online platforms
- hesitancy towards childhood vaccinations and its relationship to online media consumption
- body positivity empowerment and Instagram (in collaboration with Marketing)
- social media addiction (second supervisor in collaboration with Psychology)
- identity creation by online influencers (second supervisor in collaboration with Marketing)
- fandom, fan fiction and K-pop communities online (second supervisor in collaboration with English)
Expertise & Capabilities
- Health communication
- Social media
- Body image
- International communication
- Strategic communication/advertising
- Quantitative/qualitative methods
Teaching Interests
- Journalism, year 1
- News writing, year 2
- Journalism Portfolio, year 4/honours
- Producing Media, masters
- Strategic Communication, masters
- Media and Health, year 4/honours & masters
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Missouri
Award Date: 1 Jan 2010
Master of Arts, University of Missouri
Award Date: 1 Jan 2005
Bachelor of Arts, American University in Bulgaria
Award Date: 1 Jan 2001
Keywords
- Health communication
- Social media
- Journalism
- Quantitative Analysis
- International
- Advertising
- Body image
- eating disorders
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
Network
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Impact of knife seizure imagery in Scotland
Cogan, N., Williams, D., Chau, C. Y., Eckler, P., Swinson, N., Hunter, S., Knifton, L., Lindon, W. & Russell, K.
14/09/20 → …
Project: Non-funded project
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Health Literacy in Crisis: gender-based violence among Syrian refugees (Newton Funds)
1/02/17 → 31/01/18
Project: Knowledge Exchange (Conference / Seminar Hosting)
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Social media influencers as human brands: insights from an analysis of a mega-influencer follower-generated hashtag network on Instagram
Rathnayake, D. T., Tonner, A. & Eckler, P., 5 Jul 2022. 3 p.Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract › peer-review
Open AccessFile72 Downloads (Pure) -
Are images of seized knives an effective crime deterrent? A comparative thematic analysis of young people's views within the Scottish context
Cogan, N., Chin-Van Chau, Y., Russell, K., Linden, W., Swinson, N., Eckler, P., Knifton, L., Jordan, V., Williams, D., Coleman, C. & Hunter, S. C., 11 Jun 2022, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Journal of Youth Studies. 19 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile4 Downloads (Pure)
Prizes
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2013 Outstanding Reviewer award
Eckler, Petya (Recipient), 27 Mar 2014
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Images of Research photo competition
Eckler, Petya (Recipient), 2017
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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Advisor for Media Mindful campaign
Karen Boyle (Advisor) & Petya Eckler (Advisor)
Oct 2020Activity: Consultancy types › Consultancy
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Social media and body image: An evolving relationship
Petya Eckler (Speaker)
Feb 2020Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Impacts
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Youth select committee submission on social media use.
Andrea Tonner (Participant) & Petya Eckler (Participant)
Impact: Impact - for External Portal › Policy and legislation