title: Pragmatic, Randomized Controlled Trials of the Girls on the Go! Program to Improve Self-Esteem in Girls.
abstract: To test the effectiveness of an intervention delivered by health professionals outside the school environment to girls identified with issues such as poor body image, low self-esteem, low self-confidence, nonparticipation in sports, or being overweight or underweight.
  
  
  
  The study's design was a stepped-wedge randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of an intervention on self-esteem, impairment induced by eating disorders, self-efficacy, body satisfaction, and dieting behaviors.
  
  
  
  The study took place at the community health center located in a culturally diverse area of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
  
  
  
  Participants were 122 primary and secondary school girls between 10 and 16 years of age.
  
  
  
  Girls on the Go! is a 10-week program designed to improve self-esteem, body image, and confidence, using an empowerment model that involved interactive and experiential learning approaches. Weekly themes included body image and self-esteem, safety and assertiveness, a healthy mind, physical activity, healthy eating, trust and confidence, and connections.
  
  
  
  Measurements were made using Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, clinical interview assessment, health self-efficacy (included mental health and physical health self-efficacy scales), body esteem scale, and the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire for Children.
  
  
  
  A linear mixed model was used.
  
  
  
  The intervention led to a significant increase (p < .05) in self-esteem and self-efficacy (mental and physical health self-efficacy subscales), for both primary and secondary school-aged participants and reduced dieting behaviors (secondary school participants). These gains were retained after 6 months of follow-up.
  
  
  
  This group-based, low-dose intervention, which, although targeting girls with a range of psychological issues and including both overweight and underweight participants, is a successful means of improving self-esteem among girls from diverse cultural backgrounds.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Monash Health, Allied Health Research Unit, Cheltenham, Australia Monash Health Greater Dandenong Community Health Services, Springvale, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia laura.tirlea@monash.edu.
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tirlea
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Truby
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Monash Health, Allied Health Research Unit, Cheltenham, Australia.
authors.forename: Terry P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Haines
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D057215:Body Dysmorphic Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D004032:Diet / Q000523:psychology; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D012649:Self Concept; D020377:Self Efficacy
keywords: adolescents; body image; children; culturally diverse; dieting; disordered eating and eating disorders; prevention research; self-efficacy