A pilot evaluation of the acceptability and feasibility of, and preliminary outcomes from, the Embrace Kids Classroom Program among Australian pre-adolescents

Universal body image interventions have the potential to reach the large groups of young people affected by body dissatisfaction. Two common limitations of these interventions are their ability to be delivered at scale, and for the task of intervention delivery to be shifted to non-professional facilitators. The Embrace Kids Classroom Program (EKCP) seeks to address these limitations, through its school-based, teacher-led format, and positively-focused content that seeks to boost young people's strengths. The current study evaluated the Australian primary school version of the program, intended for students in Years 5 and 6. Five schools (N=361 students, 10–12 years old) participated in a pilot trial of the EKCP. Students completed two surveys pre-program to establish a within-subjects control period, and then completed follow-up surveys at one-week and one-month post-program. The EKCP was acceptable to both students and teachers. Students who participated in the program showed a small increase in self-compassion at one-week post-program, but this did not persist at one month. Girls showed stronger intentions to behave positively on social media compared to boys. Findings provide preliminary evidence that the EKCP is a safe and acceptable intervention. Future research directions include evaluating the program in more rigorous controlled trials.