The effectiveness of brief animated films as a scalable micro-intervention to improve children's body image: A randomised controlled trial

Evaluation of curricular mindfulness micro-interventions to support college student resilience: a pilot study

Objective: This study addressed two research questions: (1) What is the feasibility of embedding curricular resilience micro-interventions across campus at a small university? (2) How do students and faculty describe their experiences of participating in resilience micro-interventions? Participants: 12 faculty, 267 students. Methods: Mixed-methods, quasi-experimental design. Faculty were randomly assigned to either implement curricular micro-interventions (the experimental group) or not (the control group). Student participants completed three surveys: pre-, mid-, and post-test. Six experimental group faculty completed a post-study focus group. Results: Qualitative data indicated micro-interventions are feasible to implement (RQ1), and students responded well and perceived a positive impact on their lives (RQ2). Conclusions: Resilience micro-interventions are feasible to implement in the classroom and show promise for supporting student resilience and well-being. Future research directions include studying their long-term impact, scalability, and effectiveness in diverse educational contexts.

"My body is amazing from the bottom to the top" - An RCT study testing two positive body image media micro-interventions for young children aged 4-6 years

This study presents a fully powered RCT testing the effectiveness and acceptability of two positive body image online media-based micro-interventions designed for young children. A total of 439 children aged 4-6 years were randomised into one of four conditions: i) episode intervention, ii) episode control, iii) music video intervention, or iv) music video control. Children and their accompanying parent attended two data collection sessions, approximately a week apart. During session one, each child and accompanying parent watched their assigned media together on a tablet device. Children completed measures of body appreciation, functionality appreciation, and weight bias with a trained moderator in a play-based interview pre-intervention (T1), immediately post-intervention (T2) and approximately one-week later (T3) during session two. Accompanying parents completed brief acceptability questionnaires at both sessions. Results indicated that the music video intervention had a small protective effect over the matched control on body appreciation. No effects were found for the episode intervention. Children and their parent/guardian indicated that both interventions were equally acceptable to each other and when compared with their respective, matched active controls. Results showed some promise for the immediate protective impact of appearance inclusive children's media that focuses on body appreciation and functionality appreciation.

Evaluating the effectiveness and acceptability of two positive body image media micro-interventions among children aged 4-6 years old - a study protocol

BACKGROUND

Children's online media perpetuates appearance idealised images and can negatively impact the way children feel about their own and other people's bodies (e.g., weight bias) at a young age. The development and evaluation of body image interventions for young children to counteract this, are scarce. There is a need for prevention efforts to nurture the development of positive body image among this group to help mitigate potential body image concerns in later childhood. Media-based approaches promoting positive body image messages have shown preliminary efficacy. In collaboration with industry partners, we have developed two positive body image media micro-interventions (a 15-minute episode and a music video) to be evaluated in a fully powered RCT.

METHODS

We aim to recruit 440 children between the ages of 4 and 6 years to be randomised into one of four conditions: (i) 15-minute episode intervention, (ii) 15-minute episode control, (iii) 3-minute music video intervention, or (iv) 3-minute music video control. This study will be conducted face-to-face, whereby children and a parent attend a media screening session and children complete pre-and post-intervention measures of positive body image and weight bias. Both the child and parent will watch their assigned media, together on a tablet device. Due to their age, children will complete outcome measures with a trained moderator in a play-based interview pre-intervention (T1), immediately post-intervention (T2) and one-week follow up (T3). A corresponding parent will complete a questionnaire on intervention acceptability at T2, and re-watch of their assigned media at T3. The primary outcome will be the change in body appreciation, and secondary outcomes include change in functionality appreciation and weight bias. Exploratory analyses will determine any effect of gender (girls vs. boys), year group (reception vs. year 1) dosage or delayed effects. Moderator fidelity will be also assessed.

DISCUSSION

This study will evaluate two positive body image micro-interventions among children 4-6 years old. These interventions have the potential to bolster children's positive body image and reduce weight bias. A dissemination plan is in place with project stakeholders such that the interventions can reach millions of children worldwide.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The trial is registered with Clinical Trial.gov, Ref number: NCT06146647.

A Brief Internet-Based Passive Psychoeducation Intervention to Promote Healthy Relationships Among Young Adults: A Pilot Randomised Placebo-Controlled Trial

This pilot randomized controlled trial tested the potential efficacy of a brief internet-based, passive psychoeducation intervention, Free From Abuse, in promoting healthy relationships among young adults. Participants aged 18 to 24 years were randomly assigned to an intervention treatment (n = 71) or a placebo control condition (n = 77). Participants in the treatment arm had a larger increase in recognition of abusive behavior and reduction in domestic violence myth acceptance scores than participants in the control arm postintervention and after one week. This study provides preliminary evidence that brief internet-based passive psychoeducation is potentially useful in promoting healthy relationships among young adults.

A short-form drama series created for the digital media environment: A randomised controlled trial exploring effects on girls' body satisfaction, acceptance of appearance diversity, and appearance-related internalised racism

'Edutainment' micro-interventions are a scalable public health strategy that can challenge media-related body image pressures and race- and weight- based stigma. This study evaluated the impact of viewing a brief, theoretically-informed, short-form drama episode on Black and non-Black adolescent girls' body image, acceptance of diversity of appearance (assessed by acceptance of an individual in a larger body and a Black individual), and appearance-related internalised racism (among Black girls only). The fictional drama depicted characters of diverse body sizes and race/ethnicities, with each episode focusing on a risk or protective factor for body image concerns among adolescent girls (e.g., appearance-related teasing and conversations). Participants (N = 686; 50.4 % Black, 49.6 % non-Black) aged 13-18 (Mage = 15.72 years) were randomly allocated to view either the first episode of this series (focused on social media's unrealistic appearance ideals and strategies to resist pressures) or a non-body-image-related control video. Findings revealed no significant differences in body satisfaction between conditions but significant improvements in the acceptance of appearance diversity among all girls who viewed the body image episode. Black girls who viewed this episode experienced significant improvements to appearance-related internalised racism. Edutainment micro-interventions constitute a promising avenue for promoting acceptance of appearance diversity and reducing appearance-related internalised racism.

Primping, performing, and policing: Social media use and self-sexualization among U.S. White, Black, and Asian-American adolescent girls

Objectification theorists argue that routine sexual objectification, experienced interpersonally and via the media, encourages women and adolescent girls to value their external appearance and sexiness above other bodily experiences and competencies. Commonly, tests of this theory have linked exposure to sexualizing media content (i.e., TV, music videos, social media) to self-objectification and subsequently to consequences such as disordered eating among predominantly White samples. Do these analyses extend to U.S. girls of color and to broader well-being consequences? Using structural equation modeling, we tested theorized connections among 884 adolescent girls aged 13-18, including 391 White girls, 248 Black girls, and 245 Asian American girls. Participants completed surveys assessing their use of several social media platforms, social media engagement, self-sexualization, mental health symptoms, self-esteem, and body shame. We also examined age, racial identity, and racial composition of peer group as moderators. The model worked as expected for the full sample, with social media use and engagement predicting greater self-sexualization, which in turn was associated with diminished well-being. However, the model fit was worse for the White girls than for girls of color, and some constructs operated differently. Implications for future research with girls and possible media interventions are discussed.

Using Chatbot Technology to Improve Brazilian Adolescents' Body Image and Mental Health at Scale: Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Accessible, cost-effective, and scalable mental health interventions are limited, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where disparities between mental health needs and services are greatest. Microinterventions (ie, brief, stand-alone, or digital approaches) aim to provide immediate reprieve and enhancements in mental health states and offer a novel and scalable framework for embedding evidence-based mental health promotion techniques into digital environments. Body image is a global public health issue that increases young peoples' risk of developing more severe mental and physical health issues. Embedding body image microinterventions into digital environments is one avenue for providing young people with immediate and short-term reprieve and protection from the negative exposure effects associated with social media.

OBJECTIVE

This 2-armed, fully remote, and preregistered randomized controlled trial assessed the impact of a body image chatbot containing microinterventions on Brazilian adolescents' state and trait body image and associated well-being outcomes.

METHODS

Geographically diverse Brazilian adolescents aged 13-18 years (901/1715, 52.54% girls) were randomized into the chatbot or an assessment-only control condition and completed web-based self-assessments at baseline, immediately after the intervention time frame, and at 1-week and 1-month follow-ups. The primary outcomes were mean change in state (at chatbot entry and at the completion of a microintervention technique) and trait body image (before and after the intervention), with the secondary outcomes being mean change in affect (state and trait) and body image self-efficacy between the assessment time points.

RESULTS

Most participants who entered the chatbot (258/327, 78.9%) completed ≥1 microintervention technique, with participants completing an average of 5 techniques over the 72-hour intervention period. Chatbot users experienced small significant improvements in primary (state: P<.001, Cohen d=0.30, 95% CI 0.25-0.34; and trait body image: P=.02, Cohen d range=0.10, 95% CI 0.01-0.18, to 0.26, 95% CI 0.13-0.32) and secondary outcomes across various time points (state: P<.001, Cohen d=0.28, 95% CI 0.22-0.33; trait positive affect: P=.02, Cohen d range=0.15, 95% CI 0.03-0.27, to 0.23, 95% CI 0.08-0.37; negative affect: P=.03, Cohen d range=-0.16, 95% CI -0.30 to -0.02, to -0.18, 95% CI -0.33 to -0.03; and self-efficacy: P=.02, Cohen d range=0.14, 95% CI 0.03-0.25, to 0.19, 95% CI 0.08-0.32) relative to the control condition. Intervention benefits were moderated by baseline levels of concerns but not by gender.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first large-scale randomized controlled trial assessing a body image chatbot among Brazilian adolescents. Intervention attrition was high (531/858, 61.9%) and reflected the broader digital intervention literature; barriers to engagement were discussed. Meanwhile, the findings support the emerging literature that indicates microinterventions and chatbot technology are acceptable and effective web-based service provisions. This study also offers a blueprint for accessible, cost-effective, and scalable digital approaches that address disparities between health care needs and provisions in low- and middle-income countries.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinicaltrials.gov NCT04825184; http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04825184.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

RR2-10.1186/s12889-021-12129-1.

Can following body positive or appearance neutral Facebook pages improve young women's body image and mood? Testing novel social media micro-interventions

Small changes to social media use could have a large impact across the population. The present study tested novel social media micro-interventions (i.e., brief content delivered in everyday life) in which young women (N = 159) were instructed to either (1) follow a body positive Facebook group, (2) follow an appearance neutral Facebook group, or (3) use Facebook as usual. Relevant content was posted to the Facebook groups three times per day for two weeks. Primary outcomes were trait body image (body dissatisfaction and appreciation) and mood, and secondary outcomes were trait self-objectification, appearance comparison tendency, and body activism. Outcomes were assessed across three timepoints: pre-test (T1), post-test (T2) after the 14-day intervention period, and follow-up (T3) 4-weeks after T2. Participants in both the body positive and appearance neutral conditions reported decreased body dissatisfaction from T1 to T2 (small-medium effects) and participants in the body positive condition reported decreased appearance comparisons from T1 to T2 (medium effect). There were no changes for those variables from T2 to T3. No other significant differences were found. Viewing a small number of body positive or appearance neutral posts on social media may be an effective inexpensive micro-intervention for improving young women's body image.

A multicomponent digital intervention to promote help-seeking for mental health problems and suicide in sexual and gender diverse young adults: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

LGBTQ+ community's higher susceptibility to worse mental health outcomes and more help-seeking barriers compared to the cis-heterosexual population. Despite the LGBTQ+ population facing higher mental health risks, there has been a dearth of research focusing on developing tailored interventions targeting them. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a digital multicomponent intervention in promoting help-seeking for mental health issues in LGBTQ+ young adults.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

We recruited LGBTQ+ young adults aged between 18 and 29 who scored moderate or above on at least 1 dimension of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21 and did not have help-seeking experiences in the past 12 months. Participants (n = 144) were stratified by gender assigned at birth (male/female) and randomly allocated (1:1 ratio) to the intervention or active control parallel condition by generating a random number table, so they were blinded to the intervention condition. All participants received online psychoeducational videos, online facilitator-led group discussions, and electronic brochures in December 2021 and January 2022, with the final follow-up in April 2022. The contents of the video, discussion, and brochure are help-seeking for the intervention group and general mental health knowledge for the control group. The primary outcomes were help-seeking intentions for emotional problems and suicidal ideation and attitudes toward seeking help from mental health professionals at the 1-month follow-up. The analysis was performed by including all participants based on their randomized group regardless of adherence to the protocol. A linear mixed model (LMM) was used for analysis. All models were adjusted for baseline scores. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR2100053248. A total of 137 (95.1%) participants completed a 3-month follow-up, and 4 participants from the intervention condition and 3 from the control condition did not complete the final survey. Compared with the control group (n = 72), a significant improvement was found in help-seeking intentions for suicidal ideation in the intervention group (n = 70) at post-discussion (mean difference = 0.22, 95% CI [0.09, 0.36], p = 0.005), 1-month (mean difference = 0.19, 95% CI [0.06, 0.33], p = 0.018), and 3-month follow-ups (mean difference = 0.25, 95% CI [0.11, 0.38], p = 0.001). There was also a significant improvement in the intervention condition on the help-seeking intention for emotional problems at 1-month (mean difference = 0.17, 95% CI [0.05, 0.28], p = 0.013) and 3-month follow-ups (mean difference = 0.16, 95% CI [0.04, 0.27], p = 0.022) compared with the control group. Participants' depression and anxiety literacy and help-seeking encouragement related knowledge in intervention conditions showed significant improvements. There were no significant improvements in actual help-seeking behaviors, self-stigma toward seeking professional assistance, depression, and anxiety symptoms. No adverse events or side effects were observed. However, the follow-up time point was limited to 3 months which might not be long enough for drastic mindset and behavioral changes in help-seeking to occur.

CONCLUSIONS

The current intervention was an effective approach in promoting help-seeking intentions, mental health literacy, and help-seeking encouragement-related knowledge. Its brief yet integrated intervention format could also be utilized in treating other imminent concerns confronted by LGBTQ+ young adults.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Chictr.org.cn, ChiCTR2100053248.

'Scars: How Our Wounds Make Us Who We Are': Improving appearance-based stigma, conceptualisation of beauty and body esteem through a documentary

Introduction

Those with an altered appearance as a result of injury, health condition or treatment can face stigma, which may contribute to adverse psychosocial outcomes. However, current research tends to focus on supporting individuals themselves to cope, rather than targeting societal stigma. This study aimed to reduce societal stigma towards this group, through the use of a documentary about people with scars.

Methods

146 adults completed questionnaires before and after viewing the documentary.

Results

After viewing, participants had reduced self-reported intentions to behave in a stigmatising way towards those with visible differences, broader conceptualisation of beauty, and more positive body-esteem. Qualitative data also suggested further positive impacts.

Conclusion

Those with visible differences (for example scars) are subject to societal stigmatisation which perpetuates psychological and social problems. Therefore, alleviating social stigma through the media, as demonstrated through the documentary in this study, may improve the lives of those living with visible differences.

Lay Summary

People with an altered appearance or scars as a result of injury, health condition or treatment can face stigma, which may contribute to harmful psychological and social outcomes. However, current research tends to focus on supporting affected individuals themselves to cope, rather than targeting societal stigma. This study aimed to find out whether a documentary about people with scars was successful at reducing viewers' stigma towards this group. A group of 146 adults completed questionnaires before and after viewing the documentary. After viewing, questionnaires indicated that participants had reduced intentions to behave in a stigmatising way towards those with visible differences. Furthermore, they also viewed a broader range of appearances as beautiful and felt more positive about their own bodies. Comments and feedback from participants also suggested further positive impacts. Those with visible differences (for example scars) are subject to societal stigmatisation which can cause and worsen mental health problems. Therefore, alleviating social stigma through the media, as demonstrated through the documentary in this study, may improve the lives of those living with visible differences.

Feasibility and acceptability of video-based microinterventions for eating disorder prevention among adolescents in secondary schools

OBJECTIVE

Eating disorders (EDs) often emerge in late adolescence. Schools are ideal settings for prevention programs; however, cost and time limit implementation. Microinterventions may overcome these challenges. This study adapted two microinterventions (cognitive dissonance, self-compassion) and assessed feasibility and acceptability among mid-adolescents to provide proof-of-concept for further investigation.

METHOD

Feedback from staff (n = 5) and student (n = 15) focus groups contributed iteratively to the adaptation of intervention materials. Students in Grade 10 and 11 (N = 101, M_age  = 15.80, SD = 0.68) were then randomly allocated by class to a 20-min video-based cognitive-dissonance or self-compassion intervention, accessed on their school devices. ED risk and protective factors were assessed at baseline, immediate postintervention (state outcomes), and 1-week follow-up (trait outcomes). Acceptability items were included at both timepoints.

RESULTS

Implementation was deemed feasible. Girls generally reported greater acceptability than boys. Among girls, the self-compassion intervention demonstrated greater acceptability. Among boys, some aspects of acceptability (e.g., lesson endorsement, utilization of techniques) were rated higher in the cognitive dissonance group whereas other aspects (e.g., understanding, interest) were greater in the self-compassion group. All groups exhibited favorable changes in most state outcomes, however trait outcome change was varied.

DISCUSSION

Microinterventions provide a feasible way of implementing prevention strategies in a time-poor educational context. Future large-scale evaluation is warranted to determine efficacy, following modifications based on current findings.

PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE

This study shows promising feasibility and acceptability of two brief, self-guided video-based lessons (microinterventions) for adolescents in school classrooms, that use psychological techniques to target appearance pressures as a key risk factor for eating disorders. Such interventions are easier to implement in school settings than longer, facilitator-led interventions, to encourage greater uptake and ongoing use. Findings support further research to evaluate effectiveness, to ultimately provide accessible and gender-inclusive tools for busy schools.

Promoting positive body image in children through theatre: An evaluation of Cinderella: the AWESOME Truth

Cinderella: the AWESOME Truth is a children's theatrical production developed with the aim of promoting positive body image and improved self-image. As part of the production's initial run at the Polka Theatre in London, United Kingdom, we conducted an evaluation of the show's efficacy at improving state positive body image and self-image. Using a single-arm design, we recruited 54 girls and 45 boys between the ages of 5 and 9 years attending a performance of Cinderella with their parents/caregivers, and asked them to complete an adapted measure of state body appreciation at pre- and post-attendance. Participants were also asked to complete open-ended questions about their own uniqueness and awesomeness - two central themes of the production - at both time-points, and their enjoyment of the show at post-attendance. Results indicated that attending the performance improved state body appreciation, self-perceived uniqueness, and self-perceived awesomeness, with small-to-moderate effects. These results were consistent across girls and boys, and enjoyment of the performance was near universally high. Despite limitations - including the lack of a control group and the constrained assessment period - these results suggest that tailored children's theatre may be a viable method of promoting positive body image in young age groups.

Psychological Impact and Influence of Animation on Viewer’s Visual Attention and Cognition: A Systematic Literature Review, Open Challenges, and Future Research Directions

Animation is an excellent method to associate with the audience in a fun and innovative manner. In recent span, animation has been employed in various fields to enhance knowledge, marketing, advertisement, and age groups from infants to adults. The present communication expounds the systematic review on the impact created by animation on the viewer’s visual attention. For this review, a database such as Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Taylor & Francis, and IEEE Xplore were pursued for publications on the impact of animation on viewer’s visual attention from January 2015 to December 2021. The search results showcased 175 titles with 114 full articles, out of which 35 were related to viewers’ visual attention towards animation. These reviewed studies comprised of physical outcome ( $n=9$ ), psychological outcome ( $n=15$ ), and cognitive outcome ( $n=11$ ) from which the attention-related factors, physical effects, and cognitive effects of animation were assessed. The animation has influenced the viewer’s visual attention through the integration of the different stimuli and the highly organized presentation. Furthermore, the animation has also aided the viewer in attaining greater conceptual understanding, thereby facilitating their cognitive response. As a result, the animation was found to be helpful in enhancing learning skills, food marketing, and teaching strategy. Furthermore, the drawbacks and future recommendations of the studies were elaborated. In addition, challenges and open issues faced during the studies were discussed. Finally, the priority areas in animation identified for promising future directions to visualize large pool data, provide smart communication, and design 3D modeling structures were highlighted.

Internet-based interventions to promote help-seeking for mental health in LGBTQ+ young adults: Protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background

Compared to its cis-heterosexual counterpart, the sexual and gender minority (SGM) population is disproportionately susceptible to mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, and minority stress. They are also facing unique help-seeking barriers when in need of support. Past research has shown promising results in using interventions to promote help-seeking intentions and attitudes of the cis-heterosexual population. However, there were no known help-seeking interventions targeting the SGM population. This protocol illustrates a study design to test the efficacy of a newly-developed internet-based program aimed to promote help-seeking for mental health in LGBTQ+ young adults.

Methods

This study is a randomized controlled trial that aims to promote and improve the SGM young adults' help-seeking by integrating animated psychoeducational videos, group discussion, and the SGM youth help-seeking brochure. Primary outcomes, including help-seeking intentions and attitudes, will be measured at baseline, post-intervention, one-month post-intervention, and three-month post-intervention. The secondary outcomes, including help-seeking stigma, help-seeking literacy, mental health literacy, and help-seeking behaviors, will be measured at the same time points.

Discussion

This is an internet-based, multi-dimensional, and integrative intervention tailored to the needs of the SGM population. It addresses an important gap in the current landscape of mental health promotion for the SGM population. The findings from this trial will provide new knowledge on promoting help-seeking among the SGM population, paving the road for future research that focuses on addressing mental health issues faced by the SGM population.

Trial registration

Chictr.org.cn: ChiCTR2100053248.

Systematic Review of Digital Interventions for Adolescent and Young Adult Women's Body Image

Background

A growing number of digital interventions have been developed to address a range of mental health issues including body image. Identifying effective interventions for body image is important given the prevalence of body image concerns and their associated negative outcomes among young women. This review aimed to critically evaluate current evidence on the use of digital interventions for adolescent and young adult women's body image.

Methods

A literature search was performed in November 2021 across three databases, PsychINFO, Web of Science and Pubmed to identify studies published with keywords and synonyms of "body image" and "digital interventions" that have been conducted with girls/women aged 10-25 years. Studies were included if they assessed a universal body image intervention delivered through a digital platform (e.g., web-based, mobile phone) and if they reported body image outcomes using validated measures. Two authors independently screened studies extracted data and assessed the quality of studies.

Results

Eight of 15 interventions were effective in improving at least one body image outcome from pre-post intervention; however, effect sizes were mostly small-medium, and few effects were maintained at follow-up. Studies were heterogeneous in terms of delivery format, duration, sample characteristics, quality, and outcomes.

Discussion

Findings suggest that digitally delivered interventions can effectively improve some body image outcomes in young women. Characteristics of effective studies are discussed and suggestions for future work on intervention development in this field are provided.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021281435, identifier CRD42021281435.

Improving body image at scale among Brazilian adolescents: study protocol for the co-creation and randomised trial evaluation of a chatbot intervention

BACKGROUND

Body image concerns are prevalent among Brazilian adolescents and can lead to poor psychological and physical health. Yet, there is a scarcity of culturally-appropriate, evidence-based interventions that have been evaluated and made widely available. Chatbot technology (i.e., software that mimics written or spoken human speech) offers an innovative method to increase the scalability of mental health interventions for adolescents. The present protocol outlines the co-creation and evaluation of a body image chatbot for Brazilian adolescents via a partnership between academics, industry organisations and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

METHODS

A two-armed fully remote randomised controlled trial will evaluate the chatbot's effectiveness at improving body image and well-being. Adolescent girls and boys (N = 2800) aged 13-18 years recruited online will be randomly allocated (1:1) into either: 1) a body image chatbot or 2) an assessment-only control condition. Adolescents will engage with the chatbot over a 72-hour period on Facebook Messenger. Primary outcomes will assess the immediate and short-term impact of the chatbot on state- and trait-based body image, respectively. Secondary outcomes will include state- and trait-based affect, trait self-efficacy and treatment adherence.

DISCUSSION

This research is the first to develop an evidence-informed body image chatbot for Brazilian adolescents, with the proposed efficacy trial aiming to provide support for accessible, scalable and cost-effective interventions that address disparities in body image prevalence and readily available resources.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04825184 , registered 30th March 2021.

Examining the efficacy of video-based microinterventions for improving risk and protective factors for disordered eating among young adult women

OBJECTIVE

Brief self-guided activities designed for focused and immediate benefits, termed microinterventions, have the potential to aid reach and engagement in mental health interventions; however further validation is needed. This study evaluated effects of two microinterventions for responding to appearance-ideal media on risk and protective factors for disordered eating.

METHOD

Undergraduate women (N = 202, M_age = 19.90, SD = 2.75) were allocated quasi-randomly to one of three 15-min video-based microinterventions (mindfulness, cognitive dissonance, educational control) in the lab and assessed on state outcomes at baseline and immediate posttest. One week later, trait factors were assessed and participants underwent an appearance-ideal media exposure task.

RESULTS

Both mindfulness and dissonance groups reported significant immediate benefits to state appearance-ideal internalization, perceived sociocultural pressures and related distress, and mood, compared to educational control (Glass's Δ effect sizes = .40-.94), but not state weight or appearance satisfaction. At 1-week follow-up, mindfulness and dissonance groups demonstrated improved trait appearance-ideal internalization (Δ = .40 and .42), weight and shape concerns (Δ = .27 [ns] and .44), and body appreciation (Δ = .39 and .46) compared to the educational control. There were no effects on trait perceived pressures, negative affect, or body image psychological flexibility, and no differential changes in state outcomes from premedia to postmedia exposure.

DISCUSSION

Microinterventions using mindfulness and dissonance techniques show promise for improving some risk and potential protective factors for disordered eating in the immediate and short-term. Further research is required to substantiate their place within the spectrum of eating disorder prevention, early intervention and treatment techniques.