(116) Pregnancy & Power: Understanding Instagram Sentiments on Weight & Strength Training Using Artificial Intelligence (MonkeyLearn)

Exercise in pregnancy, specifically strength training, is safe and encouraged. However, limited and controversial guidelines across social media platforms leads to confusion and misinformation for pregnant patients. We aim to assess the sentiments of Instagram comments concerning weight and strength training during pregnancy, using natural language processing tools (Monkey Learn).

Study Design: A cross-sectional analysis of Instagram comments via hashtags #pregnancystrengthtraining and #pregnancyweightlifting was conducted on August 3, 2023. The first 100 posts for each hashtag were reviewed. Content characteristics were obtained. Comments were input into MonkeyLearn Sentiment Analyzer (2023), to assess their sentiments. The confidence percentage of the sentiment was recorded. Chi-square goodness-of-fit test was performed to assess observed proportions of sentiments compared to expected distribution.

Results:

200 Instagram posts were identified, 31 posts were excluded, and 169 were analyzed. 

For“#pregnancyweightlifting” (n=83), sentiments were 75% positive, 5% negative and 1% neutral (p< 0.0001). Confidence levels of positive sentiments ranged from 45.4% to 99.6%, with a mean of 87.0%. Confidence levels of negative sentiments ranged from 43.5% to 77.0%, with a mean of 51.0%. 

For “#pregnancystrengthtraining”(n=86), sentiments were 80% positive, 4% negative and 2% neutral (p< 0.0001). The confidence level of neutral sentiments was 43.4% to 46.0%, with a mean of 44.6%. Confidence levels of positive sentiments ranged from 35.6% to 99.6%, with a mean of 86.3%. Confidence levels of negative sentiments ranged from 49.2% to 91.5%, with a mean of 66.7%

Conclusion: Instagram is a unique social platform that pregnant patients can learn about their bodies. Prenatal exercise including weight and strength training show comment sentiment that are significantly positive compared to negative/neutral, thus healthcare providers should continue to encourage, educate, and safely guide patients on the health benefits of prenatal exercise.