A pilot randomized-controlled trial explored the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of an inclusive dissonance-based body image intervention called the EVERYbody Project. The professionally delivered EVERYbody Project was evaluated in a universal college student population compared to a waitlist control group through one-month follow-up.
An existing dissonance-based body image program (the Body Project; Stice, Shaw, Burton, \& Wade, 2006) was adapted to directly discuss diversity within cultural appearance ideals (including race, gender identity, sexuality, ability, and age) and the individual and collective impact of pursuing exclusive appearance norms. The feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of the EVERYbody Project was assessed in an initial randomized-controlled trial. College students within a university in the Pacific Northwest United States were invited to participate in programming (universal intervention target). Professional delivery of the two-session EVERYbody Project was compared to a waitlist control condition. Intervention groups were facilitated by one "expert" (faculty or staff with body image expertise) and two college student co-facilitators. Mixed methods assessment included a comparison of changes in quantitative eating disorder risk factor outcomes across randomization conditions and among students with marginalized identities at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and one-month follow-up. Qualitative interviews assessed the impact of the program on participants with marginalized identities. Feasibility and acceptability of the program was assessed to evaluate the appropriateness of the EVERYbody Project within universal college student audiences.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
98
Brief behavioral intervention (4 hours across two meetings)
Western Washington University
Bellingham, Washington, United States
Eating disorder symptoms
Eating disorder symptoms were assessed with the Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire (EDEQ; Fairburn \& Beglin, 1994). The Global score of the EDEQ was used in this study (average across all 28 items with a 0-6 range; higher scores equal greater eating disorder symptoms).
Time frame: Assessed change from baseline (Survey 1) through post-intervention (Survey 2; immediately after intervention) and one-month follow-up (Survey 3; one month after intervention). Waitlist was assessed at parallel time points.
Body dissatisfaction: The Satisfaction and Dissatisfaction with Body Parts Scale
The Satisfaction and Dissatisfaction with Body Parts Scale (SDBPS; Berscheid, Walster, \& Bohrnstedt, 1973) assessed satisfaction and dissatisfaction with nine parts of the body that are commonly endorsed as concerning (e.g., stomach, thighs, hips). The average score was used in this study (average across all 9 items with 1-5 range; higher scores equal greater body dissatisfaction).
Time frame: Assessed change from baseline (Survey 1) through post-intervention (Survey 2; immediately after intervention) and one-month follow-up (Survey 3; one month after intervention). Waitlist was assessed at parallel time points.
Internalized cultural appearance norms
The two Internalization subscales of the Sociocultural Attitudes Toward Appearance Questionnaire-4 (SATAQ-4; Schaefer et al., 2015) assess internalized cultural messages surrounding appearance and attractiveness. The two internalization subscales were combined for this study (average across all 10 items with 1-5 range; higher scores equal greater internalization), following prior research by Kilpela et al. (2016).
Time frame: Assessed change from baseline (Survey 1) through post-intervention (Survey 2; immediately after intervention) and one-month follow-up (Survey 3; one month after intervention). Waitlist was assessed at parallel time points.
Negative affect
Negative affect was assessed with 20 items from the fear, guilt, and sadness subscales of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule-Revised (PANAS-X; Watson \& Clark, 1992). The average of all 20 items was used in this study with 1-5 range; higher scores equal greater negative affect.
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Time frame: Assessed change from baseline (Survey 1) through post-intervention (Survey 2; immediately after intervention) and one-month follow-up (Survey 3; one month after intervention). Waitlist was assessed at parallel time points.