Dissonance thin-ideal and didactic healthy behavior eating disorder prevention programs: results from a controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
Negative body image, a common problem among college-age women in the United States, strongly correlates with low self-esteem, disturbed eating behavior, and eating disorders. Psychoeducational programs have inconsistently shown improvement in body image, thin-ideal internalization, eating behaviors, psychosocial functioning, and self-esteem.


METHODS
In the current study, college women with body image concerns (N = 84) were randomly assigned to a cognitive dissonance-based, thin-ideal internalization, single-session workshop (DTI; n = 26); a psychoeducational, healthy behavior, single-session workshop (HB; n = 24); or a wait-list control (WL; n = 34).


RESULTS
Comparing baseline data with 4-week follow-up data, results indicated that both DTI and HB participants reported improvement in body image, thin-ideal internalization, and eating behaviors.


CONCLUSIONS
Results provide evidence that both interventions effectively reduce risk factors for eating pathology.
Matusek
Jill Anne
JA
Department of Psychology, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Massachusetts, USA. jamatuse@mtholyoke.edu
Wendt
Sally J
SJ
Wiseman
Claire V
CV
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image; D003073:Cognitive Dissonance; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D013334:Students; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014495:Universities