More Than Body Appearance (MBA) Intervention

NCT04677400 | Active Not Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 3811
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 100
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The promotion of a positive body image is crucial to increase the efficacy of psychological interventions targeting body image. Recent studies indicated that positive body image also acts as a protective factor against the onset of ED symptoms. However, in the last decades, research has predominantly focused on reducing body dissatisfaction, with most available psychological interventions for body image adopting a disease reduction perspective while neglecting positive aspects of psychological functioning. This approach has shown limited efficacy in improving body image. Consequently, it is crucial to develop new psychological interventions including both perspectives (i.e., disease reduction and health promotion perspectives) to improve body image and to test their efficacy in different contexts and populations. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a 2-week online psychological intervention (More than Body Appearance; MBA) designed to improve body image in young women at both high and low risk of developing Body Image Disorders and in female athletes practicing aesthetic sports.

Conditions

Body Image

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Body appreciation

  Improvements in body appreciation assessed by means of a self-report questionnaire: Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2; Minimum value: 10; Maximum value: 50; higher scores represent higher body appreciation)

  2 weeks

• Body dysmorphic disorder symptoms

  Reductions in body dysmorphic disorder symptoms assessed by means of a self-report questionnaire: Questionario sul Dismorfismo Corporeo (QDC; Minimum value: 40; Maximum value: 280; higher scores represent higher body dysmorphic disorder symptoms)

  2 weeks

• Functionality appreciation

  Improvements in functionality appreciation assessed by means of a self-report questionnaire: Functional Appreciation Scale (FAS; Minimum value: 7; Maximum value: 35; higher scores represent higher body functionality)

  2 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Risk of developing eating disorders

  2 weeks

• Intuitive eating

  2 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Experimental Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in the Experimental group start the MBA intervention immediately (Time 0; T0).

Other: More than Body Appearance (MBA) Intervention

Waiting-list group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in the waiting-list group start the MBA intervention at Time 1 (T1; 15 days after the Experimental group).

Other: More than Body Appearance (MBA) Intervention

Interventions

More than Body Appearance (MBA) Intervention OTHER

The MBA is an online psychological intervention designed to improve body image. The intervention lasts 15 days, and it comprises two types of activity (1st and 2nd week). During the first week of the MBA intervention, participants sill read three blocks of psychoeducational material including information about: 1) body image; 2) positive body image and healthy lifestyles; and 3) body functionality. During the second week participants produce 3 structured writing assessment pertaining to body functionality and why it is important. Each assignment focused on two areas of body functionality: 1) body's senses and physical capacities; 2) health and creative skills; 3) self-care/daily routine and communication with others. For each writing assignment, participants were asked to reflect, describe, and specify why these aspects of body functionality were personally important and meaningful to them.

Experimental Group; Waiting-list group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age 18 or above

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of a full-blown Body Image Disorder (BID);
• Current treatment for a BID.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Padova: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Padua

Padua, PD, 35131, Italy

Location

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Methods

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Investigative Techniques

Study Officials

• Silvia Cerea, PhD

  Department of General Psychology, University of Padova

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Ph.D.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 15, 2020
• First Posted: December 21, 2020
• Study Start: November 16, 2020
• Primary Completion: December 30, 2022
• Study Completion: December 31, 2025
• Last Updated: March 28, 2025

Record last verified: 2024-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

IT (1)