TY - JOUR
T1 - Effectiveness of a multi-session positive self, appearance, and functionality program on women's body satisfaction and response to media
AU - Mulgrew, Kate E.
AU - Prichard, Ivanka
AU - Stalley, Nicole
AU - Lim, Megan S.C.
PY - 2019/12
Y1 - 2019/12
N2 - Women's relationship with their bodies may be improved through activities which encourage them to focus on the positive elements of their appearance, the functional qualities of their body, and positive aspects of themselves in general. This study examined the effectiveness a multi-session program addressing these elements. Across two online sessions, 117 Australian women (Mage = 23.48) completed writing tasks about the positive elements of their appearance, body functionality, and who they are as a person, as well as engaging with functionality-focused public health campaigns. A control group completed matched tasks on stress management. Results showed that both groups had improvements across trait body appreciation, self-objectification, and weight concern across the program. Within-session state improvements were found across stress, body appreciation, appearance and functionality satisfaction for both groups. An online media exposure task was used one week post-program completion (n = 81). Idealised media exposure reduced functionality satisfaction in both groups but did not impact any other outcome measure. Findings suggest that tasks encouraging positive reflections on appearance, functionality, and self are useful in improving women's body satisfaction. Issues around choice of control group are discussed.
AB - Women's relationship with their bodies may be improved through activities which encourage them to focus on the positive elements of their appearance, the functional qualities of their body, and positive aspects of themselves in general. This study examined the effectiveness a multi-session program addressing these elements. Across two online sessions, 117 Australian women (Mage = 23.48) completed writing tasks about the positive elements of their appearance, body functionality, and who they are as a person, as well as engaging with functionality-focused public health campaigns. A control group completed matched tasks on stress management. Results showed that both groups had improvements across trait body appreciation, self-objectification, and weight concern across the program. Within-session state improvements were found across stress, body appreciation, appearance and functionality satisfaction for both groups. An online media exposure task was used one week post-program completion (n = 81). Idealised media exposure reduced functionality satisfaction in both groups but did not impact any other outcome measure. Findings suggest that tasks encouraging positive reflections on appearance, functionality, and self are useful in improving women's body satisfaction. Issues around choice of control group are discussed.
KW - Body appreciation
KW - Body functionality
KW - Intervention
KW - Media
KW - Positive appearance
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85071856698&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.bodyim.2019.08.012
DO - 10.1016/j.bodyim.2019.08.012
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85071856698
VL - 31
SP - 102
EP - 111
JO - Body Image
JF - Body Image
SN - 1740-1445
ER -