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Matheson EL, Schneider J, Tinoco A, Gentili C, Silva-Breen H, LaVoi NM, White P, Diedrichs PC. The co-creation, initial piloting, and protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial of a coach-led positive body image intervention for girls in sport. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1467. [PMID: 37525161 PMCID: PMC10391850 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16360-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Globally, girls disengage from sports at an earlier age and higher rate than boys. This is, in part, due to the unique body image challenges that girls face, relative to their male peers. Existing intervention efforts that aim to reduce girls' negative body image and movement experiences have proven marginally effective, if not ineffective. This paper outlines the co-creation, initial piloting and protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial of Body Confident Athletes (BCA); an in-person, coach-led intervention that aims to foster positive body image and sports enjoyment among girls. METHODS Following co-creation and an initial pilot, a two-armed cluster randomised controlled trial will assess the immediate (post-intervention) and short-term (1-month and 3-month follow-up) impact of BCA on girls' (N = 1,036; 11-17 years old) body image, sports enjoyment, and affect. Sport organisations will be randomly allocated (1:1) into either an intervention or waitlist control condition. Girls and coaches in the intervention condition will complete three 60-minute sessions over three consecutive weeks. The primary outcome will be the immediate change in girls' body esteem, with secondary outcomes assessing the immediate and short-term changes in girls' body appreciation, self-objectification, attuned self-care, sports enjoyment, and affect. DISCUSSION This research is the first to utilise an international multi-stakeholder partnership to co-create and evaluate an intervention that addresses the intersection of girls' body image and sport experiences. The theoretical and methodological considerations of this research have led to a feasible intervention and trial protocol, and if proven effective, BCA may assist in reducing the global gender disparity in sports participation. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT05594524 , registered 25th October 2022.
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Affiliation(s)
- E L Matheson
- Centre for Appearance Research, School of Social Sciences, College of Health, Science and Society, University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK.
| | - J Schneider
- Centre for Appearance Research, School of Social Sciences, College of Health, Science and Society, University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK
| | - A Tinoco
- Centre for Appearance Research, School of Social Sciences, College of Health, Science and Society, University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK
| | - C Gentili
- Centre for Appearance Research, School of Social Sciences, College of Health, Science and Society, University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK
| | - H Silva-Breen
- Department of Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | - N M LaVoi
- Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport, University of Minnesota, 1900 University Avenue SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - P White
- Centre for Appearance Research, School of Social Sciences, College of Health, Science and Society, University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK
| | - P C Diedrichs
- Centre for Appearance Research, School of Social Sciences, College of Health, Science and Society, University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK
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Matheson EL, Smith HG, Amaral ACS, Meireles JFF, Almeida MC, Mora G, Leon C, Gertner G, Ferrario N, Suarez Battan L, Linardon J, Fuller-Tyszkiewicz M, Diedrichs PC. Improving body image at scale among Brazilian adolescents: study protocol for the co-creation and randomised trial evaluation of a chatbot intervention. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:2135. [PMID: 34801002 PMCID: PMC8605542 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-12129-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- E L Matheson
- Centre for Appearance Research, Department of Health and Social Sciences, University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK.
| | - H G Smith
- Centre for Appearance Research, Department of Health and Social Sciences, University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK
| | - A C S Amaral
- Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Southeast of Minas Gerais, 204 Monsenhor José Augusto, Barbacena, 36205018, Brazil
| | - J F F Meireles
- Department of Exercise Science and Sport Management, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA, USA
| | - M C Almeida
- Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - G Mora
- UNICEF Brasília, Office of the Representative of UNICEF in Brazil, SEPN 510, Block A - 2nd floor, Brasília, DF, 70750-521, Brazil
| | - C Leon
- UNICEF Brasília, Office of the Representative of UNICEF in Brazil, SEPN 510, Block A - 2nd floor, Brasília, DF, 70750-521, Brazil
| | - G Gertner
- Talk2U LLC, 777 Brickell Ave Ste 1210, Miami, Florida, 33131, USA
| | - N Ferrario
- Talk2U LLC, 777 Brickell Ave Ste 1210, Miami, Florida, 33131, USA
| | - L Suarez Battan
- Talk2U LLC, 777 Brickell Ave Ste 1210, Miami, Florida, 33131, USA
| | - J Linardon
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | | | - P C Diedrichs
- Centre for Appearance Research, Department of Health and Social Sciences, University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK
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