The purpose of this study is to examine the efficacy of an intervention aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle and reducing risk factors associated with eating pathology, nonsuicidal self-injury, and suicidal behavior. We are also interested in assessing whether this intervention has the potential to prevent future symptoms of eating problems and self-harm urges and behaviors. The broader goal of this research is to identify factors that may help us better understand the prevention of self-harm behaviors and develop more effective treatments for these problems.
The current study was designed as a proof-of-concept study to test the association between weight suppression (WS; difference between one's highest and lowest weight) and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Previous research has found an association between current WS and lifetime NSSI and that this association was mediated by depressive symptoms and drive for thinness. The current study therefore modified an existing online cognitive dissonance-based program (the e-Body Project) using mixed gender content (from the Body Project 4 All scripts) to target posited mediators, i.e., depressive symptoms and weight and shape concerns, in a sample of individuals with WS and engagement in current NSSI.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
59
The Body Acceptance Program is a mixed-gender modification of the eBody Project, an online intervention in which cognitive dissonance principals are used to reduce eating pathology.
Change from baseline on the Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview-Short Form (self-report) at follow-up
Self-harm frequency and likelihood
Time frame: Pre-assessment and post-assessment (after intervention or two weeks from baseline)
Change from baseline on the "Body Esteem Scale: Appearance" subscale at follow-up
Feelings about one's appearance; scores are summed and range from 0-40, higher scores indicate greater appearance esteem
Time frame: Pre-assessment and post-assessment (after intervention or two weeks from baseline)
Change from baseline on the "Body Esteem Scale: Weight" subscale at follow-up
Feelings about one's weight; scores are summed and range from 0-32, higher scores indicate greater weight esteem
Time frame: Pre-assessment and post-assessment (after intervention or two weeks from baseline)
Change from baseline on the "Body Esteem Scale: Attribution" subscale at follow-up
Feelings about one's characteristics; scores are summed and range from 0-20, higher scores indicate greater self-esteem
Time frame: Pre-assessment and post-assessment (after intervention or two weeks from baseline)
Change from baseline on the Beck Depression Inventory II at follow-up
Depressive symptoms
Time frame: Pre-assessment and post-assessment (after intervention or two weeks from baseline)
Change from baseline on the Body Shape Questionnaire (8-item version #3) at follow-up
Assessment of weight and shape concerns
Time frame: Pre-assessment and post-assessment (after intervention or two weeks from baseline)
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Change from baseline on the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule at follow-up
Captures current positive and negative affect
Time frame: Pre-assessment and post-assessment (after intervention or two weeks from baseline)