A randomized controlled trial of a peer co-led dissonance-based eating disorder prevention program for gay men.
OBJECTIVE
Gay males have increased risk for eating disorders compared to heterosexual males, establishing a need to develop and empirically evaluate programs to reduce risk for this population. The present study investigated the acceptability and efficacy of a cognitive dissonance-based (DB) intervention (The PRIDE Body Project(©)) in reducing eating disorder risk factors among gay males in a university-based setting.


METHODS
Eighty-seven gay males were randomized to either a 2-session DB intervention (n = 47) or a waitlist control condition (n = 40). Participants completed eating disorder risk factor assessments pre-intervention, post-intervention, and at 4-week follow-up, and those receiving the intervention completed post-treatment acceptability measures.


RESULTS
Acceptability ratings were highly favorable. Regarding efficacy, the DB condition was associated with significantly greater decreases in body dissatisfaction, drive for muscularity, self-objectification, partner-objectification, body-ideal internalization, dietary restraint, and bulimic symptoms compared to waitlist control from pre- to post-intervention. Improvements in the DB group were maintained at 4-week follow-up, with the exception of body-ideal internalization. Body-ideal internalization mediated treatment effects on bulimic symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Results support the acceptability and efficacy of The PRIDE Body Project(©) and provide support for theoretical models of eating pathology in gay men.
Florida State University, Department of Psychology, 1107 W. Call St., Tallahassee, FL 32304, USA. Electronic address: brown@psy.fsu.edu.
Tiffany A
TA
Brown
Florida State University, Department of Psychology, 1107 W. Call St., Tallahassee, FL 32304, USA. Electronic address: keel@psy.fsu.edu.
Pamela K
PK
Keel
D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology; D003073:Cognitive Dissonance; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D012649:Self Concept
Dissonance; Eating disorder; Gay men; Peer-led; Prevention