Nature exposure has been found to be particularly beneficial for body image, as recent studies have identified a positive association between time spent in nature and positive body image. Positive body image, defined as the ability to accept and respect one's body, has been linked to greater life satisfaction and engagement in healthy behaviors. Conversely, negative body image is recognized as a public health concern due to its detrimental effects on both physical and mental health. It has been associated with symptoms of Body Image Disorders (BIDs), including Eating Disorders (EDs) and Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). The Nature for Body Image (NBI) project aimed to examine the impact of a structured nature exposure intervention on improving body image among young women aged 18-35 years.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
60
The intervention will include a range of activities in nature (e.g., in a public park), such as meditation, body scans, and grounding exercises.
The intervention will simply involve spending time in nature (e.g., in a public park), without specific guidelines.
The intervention will mirror the activities of the structured nature exposure intervention (e.g., meditation, body scans, and grounding exercises), but without any exposure to nature.
Department of General Psychology, University of Padova
Padova, Italy, Italy
RECRUITINGNegative Body Image
Assessed with the Italian - Body Image Concern Inventory (I-BICI), a 19-item self-report questionnaire measuring negative body image. Scores range from 19 to 95, with higher scores indicating greater negative body image.
Time frame: 5 weeks
Body Appreciation
Assessed with the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2), a 10-item self-report questionnaire measuring body appreciation. Scores range from 10 to 50, with higher scores indicating greater body appreciation.
Time frame: 5 weeks
Functionality appreciation
Assessed with the Functionality Appreciation Scale (FAS), a 7-item self-report questionnaire measuring functionality appreciation. Scores range from 7 to 35, with higher scores indicating greater functionality appreciation.
Time frame: 5 weeks
Dysfunctional Eating Behaviours and Risk of Developing Eating Disorders
Assessed with the Eating Disorder Risk Composite Score (EDRC) of the Eating Disorder Inventory-3 (EDI-3). The Eating Disorder Risk Composite Score (EDRC) investigates the risk of developing eating disorders with 25 items. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater risk of developing eating disorders.
Time frame: 5 weeks
Functional Eating Behaviors
Assessed with the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2), a 23-item self-report questionnaire measuring intuitive eating. Scores range from 23 to 115, with higher scores indicating greater intuitive eating.
Time frame: 5 weeks
Embodiment
Assessed with the Experience of Embodiment Scale (EES), a 34-item self-report questionnaire measuring embodiment. Scores range from 34 to 170, with higher scores indicating greater embodiment.
Time frame: 5 weeks
Interoceptive Awareness
Assessed with the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA), a 32-item self-report questionnaire measuring interoceptive awareness. Scores range from 0 to 160, with higher scores indicating greater interoceptive awareness.
Time frame: 5 weeks
Self-compassion
Assessed with the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), a 26-item self-report questionnaire measuring self-compassion. Scores range from 26 to 130, with higher scores indicating greater self-compassion.
Time frame: 5 weeks
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