"Body, Mind, and Self: ACT With Psychoeducation for Female Students Facing Eating Challenges"

Overview

Background: Disturbed eating attitudes are complex mental health conditions that often involve distorted body-image perception, low self-esteem, and heightened anxiety, and affect physical, emotional, and social well-being. Globally, they are considered major mental health problems, particularly among adolescents and young adults. So, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy integrated with psychoeducation on self-esteem, body-image perception, and anxiety among female university students with disturbed eating attitudes. Subjects and method: A quasi-experimental research (pre/post) two groups (study/control) design was utilized from JAN 2026 to APRIL 2026. Setting: The study was conducted at the four faculties, Menoufia University, Menoufia Governorate, Egypt. Subjects: A purposive sample of 120 students was selected from the previously mentioned setting. Tools of data collection: Five valid tools were used in data collection, tool 1: A structured interview questionnaire to assess socio-demographic characteristics of the studied subjects, tool 2: Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) a widely used measure of self-esteem, tool 3: Body Appreciation Scale (BAS) to assess positive body image by measuring acceptance, favorable opinions, respect, and protective behaviors toward one's body, tool 4: Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) to measure the severity of anxiety symptoms in adults and adolescents, tool 5: The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) widely used screening tools for identifying symptoms of anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders in both clinical and non-clinical populations. Data was analyzed at two points: pre- and post-intervention. Results: Showed no statistically significant differences between the two groups in the levels of self-esteem, body image perception, anxiety, and disturbed eating attitudes pre-intervention. But post intervention, the study group exhibited significant improvement in self-esteem, body image perception, anxiety, and disturbed eating attitudes. Conclusion: The acceptance and commitment therapy integrated with psychoeducation effectively enhances self-esteem, body-image perception, reduces anxiety, and improves disturbed eating attitudes among female university students with disturbed eating attitudes (study group). Recommendations: Offer simulation-based training for handling complex eating disorder cases, establish multidisciplinary teams (Nurses, psychologists, dietitians) for holistic care plans, Advocate for community awareness programs to reduce stigma and promote early intervention, and develop digital well-being initiatives, including social media detox strategies, as part of adolescence education.