Abstract
Background
Body image dissatisfaction during adolescence is common but not benign. School-based interventions have the potential for wide reach, but scalability of previous programmes is limited by a reliance on external facilitators.
Aims
To assess the acceptability, feasibility and efficacy of a teacher-delivered body image intervention.
Method
A pilot clustered randomised controlled trial in which 16 classes of adolescent girls were allocated to a 6-session body image programme (n = 261), or usual curriculum control (n = 187) (registration: ISRCTN42594993).
Results
Students in the intervention group had significantly improved body esteem and self-esteem and reduced thin-ideal internalisation. Effects for body esteem and thin-ideal internalisation were maintained for 3 months. There were no group differences for eating pathology, peer factors or depression. Acceptability, feasibility and efficacy varied between schools.
Conclusions
Teacher-delivered body image lessons have promise but further work is needed to increase efficacy and make interventions suitable across a range of schools.
Body image dissatisfaction during adolescence is common but not benign. School-based interventions have the potential for wide reach, but scalability of previous programmes is limited by a reliance on external facilitators.
Aims
To assess the acceptability, feasibility and efficacy of a teacher-delivered body image intervention.
Method
A pilot clustered randomised controlled trial in which 16 classes of adolescent girls were allocated to a 6-session body image programme (n = 261), or usual curriculum control (n = 187) (registration: ISRCTN42594993).
Results
Students in the intervention group had significantly improved body esteem and self-esteem and reduced thin-ideal internalisation. Effects for body esteem and thin-ideal internalisation were maintained for 3 months. There were no group differences for eating pathology, peer factors or depression. Acceptability, feasibility and efficacy varied between schools.
Conclusions
Teacher-delivered body image lessons have promise but further work is needed to increase efficacy and make interventions suitable across a range of schools.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 428-435 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | British Journal of Psychiatry |
| Volume | 203 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 2013 |
Keywords
- Acknowledged-BRC
- Acknowledged-BRC-13/14