The goal of this pilot study is to examine how to design a large-scale randomized control trial examining yoga as a way to improve positive body image in men and women across the lifespan. The main questions it will answer are: * Is the study acceptable to participants? * Is recruitment, adherence, and retention adequate? * Are study procedures appropriate? * What is the preliminary effect of yoga on embodiment (sense of connection with the body), self-objectification (evaluating oneself based on outer appearance rather than internal functions) and body appreciation? Participants will either take part in a 10-week yoga program or a control condition (where they will be asked to not change their lifestyle). They will complete online questionnaires at the start, middle and end of the 10-weeks.
The purposes of this pilot study are: * To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a randomized control trial by assessing participant retention, data collection procedures, and adherence to engaging in a supervised Hatha yoga intervention (or control group). * To examine preliminary effects of a yoga intervention on embodiment, self-objectification, and positive body image (i.e., body appreciation) among a diverse sample of adults men and women. Specifically, we will test whether a 10-week Hatha yoga program will contribute to improvements in body appreciation via a) greater embodiment, and b) lower self-objectification This will allow us to calculate effect sizes for sample size calculations for future randomized controlled trials. Clearance from the university Research Ethics Board will be obtained prior to study commencement. Participants will be recruited from community centres, social media, and traditional media in the Niagara Region. Potential participants will contact the researcher if they are interested in participating. Eligible and interested participants will be provided with a link to the baseline survey via Qualtrics, where they will complete informed consent, demographic information and measures of physical activity and body image. Once questionnaires have been completed, participants will be randomly assigned (using Microsoft Excel to randomize) to either the yoga or control group. They will be provided with instructions for their group at this time via email. They will then undergo either the 10-week yoga intervention or the control condition (see below for descriptions). Participants will be asked to complete the same physical activity and body image measures during week 5 and at the end of 10 weeks via Qualtrics. At the final time point, participants will also be asked to complete feasibility measures (e.g., acceptability, appropriateness and feasibility of the intervention and control groups), as well as a series of questions asking about their perceptions of the yoga intervention or control group. Upon completion of all measures, participants will be fully debriefed as to the true purpose of the study and the use of deception (i.e., true purpose of the study related to positive body image); they will then be asked to provide continuing informed consent. In addition, the yoga instructors will also be asked a series of questions regarding their perceptions of the yoga intervention. Yoga Intervention: Participants randomized to the yoga intervention will be asked to not make changes to other aspects of their lifestyle including their regular physical activity. Instructors are provided with guidelines regarding the format, poses, language, and themes of each class, but within those guidelines, instructors can design their own class each week. Each week, there will be a theme promoting empowerment or positive body image; instructors will be asked to choose specific poses, mantras, mudras, and affirmations to reinforce the theme of that week. Modifications to poses will be provided by the instructor. Yoga equipment will be provided during each yoga session. Each yoga class will be audio recorded to document the content of the yoga classes to ensure guidelines for the classes are followed. Attendance will be recorded at each class to track adherence. Instructors: The instructors will have a minimum of two years of teaching experience with diverse populations and must be a registered yoga teacher (e.g., RYT200/CYA-RYT200), meaning they have completed a minimum of 200 hours of yoga teacher training in a Yoga Alliance Foundation/Canadian Yoga Alliance recognized teacher training. Clothing will be standardized across instructors and appropriate for Hatha Yoga (e.g., yoga pants and a t-shirt or tank top). Instructors will be provided with an instructor manual that outlines the basic class structure and poses, themes, and language. The instructor will be blinded to the true study purpose. Instructors will then be asked to create a sample class, following the manual guidelines to teach a practice class to the research team for feedback. Language and Themes Used in a Hatha Yoga Class Control group: Participants randomized to the control group will be asked not to practice yoga for the duration of the study. Participants will be informed that they can engage in their regular physical activity routines and not change any other lifestyle factors. Participants in the control group will be offered one free yoga class in-person at the end of the study and offered one free pre-recorded video of a yoga class (from the intervention) at the end of the study. Participants: A target of approximately 65 adults will be recruited (based on expected dropout of 30%).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
65
10 weeks of Hatha yoga, once per week, 60 minutes per class
Brock University - Brock Functional Inclusive Training Centre
St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Body appreciation
Body Appreciation Scale-2 (Tylka \& Wood-Barcalow, 2015); 10 items, with each one rated on a 5-point scale ranging from 1 = never to 5 = always. Scores on the BAS-2 are averaged where higher scores represent higher levels of body appreciation.
Time frame: Baseline
Body appreciation
Body Appreciation Scale-2 (Tylka \& Wood-Barcalow, 2015); 10 items, with each one rated on a 5-point scale ranging from 1 = never to 5 = always. Scores on the BAS-2 are averaged where higher scores represent higher levels of body appreciation.
Time frame: 5 weeks
Body appreciation
Body Appreciation Scale-2 (Tylka \& Wood-Barcalow, 2015); 10 items, with each one rated on a 5-point scale ranging from 1 = never to 5 = always. Scores on the BAS-2 are averaged where higher scores represent higher levels of body appreciation.
Time frame: 10 weeks
Embodiment
Body Responsiveness Scale (Daubenmier, 2005); Each item is rated on a 7-point scale from 1 = not at all true of me to 7 = always true of me. Higher scores indicate greater body responsiveness.
Time frame: Baseline
Embodiment
Body Responsiveness Scale (Daubenmier, 2005); Each item is rated on a 7-point scale from 1 = not at all true of me to 7 = always true of me. Higher scores indicate greater body responsiveness.
Time frame: 5 weeks
Embodiment
Body Responsiveness Scale (Daubenmier, 2005); Each item is rated on a 7-point scale from 1 = not at all true of me to 7 = always true of me. Higher scores indicate greater body responsiveness.
Time frame: 10 weeks
Self-objectification
Self-Objectification Beliefs and Behaviours Scale (Lindner \& Tantleff-Dunn, 2017); 14 items, ranging from 1= strongly disagree to 5= strongly agree. Higher scores indicate higher levels of self-objectification.
Time frame: Baseline
Self-objectification
Self-Objectification Beliefs and Behaviours Scale (Lindner \& Tantleff-Dunn, 2017); 14 items, ranging from 1= strongly disagree to 5= strongly agree. Higher scores indicate higher levels of self-objectification.
Time frame: 5 weeks
Self-objectification
Self-Objectification Beliefs and Behaviours Scale (Lindner \& Tantleff-Dunn, 2017); 14 items, ranging from 1= strongly disagree to 5= strongly agree. Higher scores indicate higher levels of self-objectification.
Time frame: 10 weeks
Body surveillance
Objectified Body Consciousness Scale (McKinley \& Hyde, 1996); 7 items rated on 7-point scale ranging from 1 = strongly disagree to 7 = strongly agree; higher scores represent higher survellance
Time frame: Baseline
Body surveillance
Objectified Body Consciousness Scale (McKinley \& Hyde, 1996); 7 items rated on 7-point scale ranging from 1 = strongly disagree to 7 = strongly agree; higher scores represent higher survellance
Time frame: 5 weeks
Body surveillance
Objectified Body Consciousness Scale (McKinley \& Hyde, 1996); 7 items rated on 7-point scale ranging from 1 = strongly disagree to 7 = strongly agree; higher scores represent higher survellance
Time frame: 10 weeks
Functionality appreciation
Functional Appreciation Scale (Alleva et al., 2017); seven items, each one rated from 1= strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree. Scores on the FAS are averaged where higher scores indicate higher levels of functionality appreciation.
Time frame: Baseline
Functionality appreciation
Functional Appreciation Scale (Alleva et al., 2017); seven items, each one rated from 1= strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree. Scores on the FAS are averaged where higher scores indicate higher levels of functionality appreciation.
Time frame: 5 weeks
Functionality appreciation
Functional Appreciation Scale (Alleva et al., 2017); seven items, each one rated from 1= strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree. Scores on the FAS are averaged where higher scores indicate higher levels of functionality appreciation.
Time frame: 10 weeks
Authentic body pride
Body Self-Conscious Emotions Scale (Castonguay et al., 2014) - Authentic pride subscale - 4 items rated on a 7-point Likert scale from 1 = not at all true of me to 7 = very true of me). Higher scores indicate greater amounts of each emotion.
Time frame: Baseline
Authentic body pride
Body Self-Conscious Emotions Scale (Castonguay et al., 2014) - Authentic pride subscale - 4 items rated on a 7-point Likert scale from 1 = not at all true of me to 7 = very true of me). Higher scores indicate greater amounts of each emotion.
Time frame: 5 weeks
Authentic body pride
Body Self-Conscious Emotions Scale (Castonguay et al., 2014) - Authentic pride subscale - 4 items rated on a 7-point Likert scale from 1 = not at all true of me to 7 = very true of me). Higher scores indicate greater amounts of each emotion.
Time frame: 10 weeks
Fitness-related authentic body pride
Body Self-Conscious Emotions - Fitness Related Instrument (Castonguay et al., 2016) - Authentic body pride - Participants rate the degree to which 4 statements apply to them on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 = never to 5 = always. Higher scores indicate higher levels of fitness aspects of authentic pride.
Time frame: Baseline
Fitness-related authentic body pride
Body Self-Conscious Emotions - Fitness Related Instrument (Castonguay et al., 2016) - Authentic body pride - Participants rate the degree to which 4 statements apply to them on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 = never to 5 = always. Higher scores indicate higher levels of fitness aspects of authentic pride.
Time frame: 5 weeks
Fitness-related authentic body pride
Body Self-Conscious Emotions - Fitness Related Instrument (Castonguay et al., 2016) - Authentic body pride - Participants rate the degree to which 4 statements apply to them on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 = never to 5 = always. Higher scores indicate higher levels of fitness aspects of authentic pride.
Time frame: 10 weeks
Body image flexibility
Body Image-Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (Sandoz et al., 2013); Participants rate the degree to which each of 12 statement applies to them on a 7-point Likert scale from 1 = never true to 7 = always true. Higher scores indicate higher levels of body image flexibility
Time frame: Baseline
Body image flexibility
Body Image-Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (Sandoz et al., 2013); Participants rate the degree to which each of 12 statement applies to them on a 7-point Likert scale from 1 = never true to 7 = always true. Higher scores indicate higher levels of body image flexibility
Time frame: 5 weeks
Body image flexibility
Body Image-Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (Sandoz et al., 2013); Participants rate the degree to which each of 12 statement applies to them on a 7-point Likert scale from 1 = never true to 7 = always true. Higher scores indicate higher levels of body image flexibility
Time frame: 10 weeks
Satisfaction with function of the body and appearance of the body as assessed by Satisfaction with Body Function and Body Appearance Scale (Reboussin et al., 2000);
Satisfaction with Body Function and Body Appearance Scale (Reboussin et al., 2000); Participants rate the degree to which each of 9 statements is true of them on a 7-point Likert scale from 1 = very dissatisfied to 7 = very satisfied. Higher scores indicated higher levels of body satisfaction.
Time frame: Baseline
Satisfaction with function of the body and appearance of the body as assessed by Satisfaction with Body Function and Body Appearance Scale (Reboussin et al., 2000);
Satisfaction with Body Function and Body Appearance Scale (Reboussin et al., 2000); Participants rate the degree to which each of 9 statements is true of them on a 7-point Likert scale from 1 = very dissatisfied to 7 = very satisfied. Higher scores indicated higher levels of body satisfaction.
Time frame: 5 weeks
Satisfaction with function of the body and appearance of the body as assessed by Satisfaction with Body Function and Body Appearance Scale (Reboussin et al., 2000);
Satisfaction with Body Function and Body Appearance Scale (Reboussin et al., 2000); Participants rate the degree to which each of 9 statements is true of them on a 7-point Likert scale from 1 = very dissatisfied to 7 = very satisfied. Higher scores indicated higher levels of body satisfaction.
Time frame: 10 weeks
Attendance
Number of sessions out of 10 attended
Time frame: 10 weeks
Adherence
Proportion of total sessions attended by participants
Time frame: 10 weeks
Drop-out
Number and percent of participants lost
Time frame: Baseline
Drop-out
Number and percent of participants lost
Time frame: 5 weeks
Drop-out
Number and percent of participants lost
Time frame: 10 weeks
Retention
Proportion of participants from each group with complete data on each outcome measure
Time frame: Baseline
Retention
Proportion of participants from each group with complete data on each outcome measure
Time frame: 5 weeks
Retention
Proportion of participants from each group with complete data on each outcome measure
Time frame: 10 weeks
Acceptability of the Intervention as assessed by Weiner et al.'s (2017) acceptability measure
Acceptability of Intervention Measure (adapted from Weiner et al., 2017); comprised of 5 items; each item rated on a 5-point scale ranging from 1 = completely disagree to 5 = completely agree. Assesses perception among participants that the yoga intervention is agreeable, palatable, or satisfactory. Higher scores represent higher acceptability
Time frame: 10 weeks
Feasibility of intervention as assessed by Weiner et al.'s (2017) feasibility measure
Feasibility of Intervention Measure (adapted from Weiner et al., 2017); 5-item measure, with each item rated on a 5-point scale ranging from 1 = completely disagree to 5 = completely agree. Assesses the extent to which the yoga intervention can be successfully carried out in this setting.Higher scores represent higher feasibility
Time frame: 10 weeks
Appropriateness of intervention as assessed by Weiner et al.'s (2017) appropriateness measure
Intervention Appropriateness Measure (adapted from Weiner et al., 2017); 5-item measure, with each item rated on a 5-point scale ranging from 1 = completely disagree to 5 = completely agree. Assesses perceived fit, relevance, or compatibility of the yoga intervention in this setting and sample. Higher scores represent higher appropriateness
Time frame: 10 weeks
Interest in engaging in the yoga intervention
Number of participants (by age and gender) who express interest in the study by contacting the research team
Time frame: Baseline
Recruitment
Number and percent of men and women, age group, and weight status group enrolled
Time frame: Baseline
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