A Mobile-App Training to Reduce Body Image Disorder Symptoms and Associated Features in Female University Students
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
Body dissatisfaction represents a prevalent condition in young women, and it is associated with low self-esteem, depression, and symptoms of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and Eating Disorders (EDs). The aim of the trial is to test the effect of a mobile health application called "GGBI: Positive Body Image" in reducing body dissatisfaction, body dysmorphic disorder/eating disorder symptoms, and associated psychological features in female university students considered at high-risk of developing Body Image Disorders (BIDs).
Hypothesis: Participants using "GGBI: Positive Body Image" immediately following baseline assessment (Time 0; T0) (immediate-use App group: iApp) would exhibit greater reduction in body dissatisfaction, body dysmorphic disorder/eating disorder symptoms, and associated psychological features than participants who did not use "GGBI: Positive Body Image" in this phase of the study (delayed-use App group: dApp). Following crossover (Time 1; T1), the investigators expect that participants gains in the iApp group would be maintained at follow-up (Time 2; T2).
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Experimental: immediate-use App group (iApp group) Participants in the iApp group start using the app immediately (Time 0; T0) for 16 consecutive days (until Time 1; T1). |
Device: GGBI: Positive Body Image (Mobile App)
Brief, game-like, training exercise for challenging body image disorder symptoms and associated psychological features
|
| Active Comparator: delayed-use App group (dApp) Participants in the dApp group start using the app at Time 1 (T1; 16 days after the iApp group) and use the app for the following 16 days (Time 2; T2). |
Device: GGBI: Positive Body Image (Mobile App)
Brief, game-like, training exercise for challenging body image disorder symptoms and associated psychological features
|
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Change of body dissatisfaction and body dysmorphic disorder symptoms [16 days]
Assessed with the Questionario sul Dismorfmismo Corporo (Questionnaire about Body Dysmorphic Disorder; QDC; Cerea et al., 2017), a self-report questionnaire assessing body dissatisfaction and body dysmorphic disorder symptoms made up of 40 items. Items are rated on a 7-point Likert scale (from 1 = strongly disagree to 7 = strongly agree; score range: 40-280), with higher scores indicating extreme body dissatisfaction and body dysmorphic disorder symptoms. Individuals who score above the cut-off of the questionnaire (QDC total score = 130) should be referred for further assessment because they might present extreme body dissatisfaction/body dysmorphic disorder symptoms or may be at risk of developing body dysmorphic disorder
- Change of eating attitudes and behaviors [16 days]
Eating Disorder Inventory-3 (EDI-3; Garner, 2004; Italian version by Giannini et al., 2008): a self-report questionnaire assessing eating disorders core features made up of 91 items on a 6-point Likert scale (from always to never), with higher scores indicating higher eating disorder symptoms. It contains three primary subscales: Drive for Thinness (score range = 0-28; higher scores indicating higher drive for thinness), Bulimia (score range = 0-32; higher scores indicating higher bulimic symptoms), and Body Dissatisfaction (score range = 0-40; higher scores indicating higher body dissatisfaction). These subscales compose the Eating Disorder Risk Composite (EDRC) score. The other nine additional scales are Low Self-Esteem, Personal Alienation, Interpersonal Insecurity, Interpersonal Alienation, Interoceptive Deficits, Emotional Dysregulation, Perfectionism, Asceticism, and Maturity Fears.
Secondary Outcome Measures
- Change of self-esteem [16 days]
Assessed with the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (RSES; Rosenberg, 1965; Italian version by Prezza, Trombaccia, and Armento, 1997), a self-report questionnaire assessing self-esteem. The Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale is made up of 10 items rated on a 4-point Likert scale (from 1 = "strongly disagree" to 4 = "strongly agree" ), with higher scores indicating higher self-esteem
- Change in social anxiety symptoms [16 days]
Assessed with the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS; Mattick & Clarke, 1998; Italian version by Sica, Musoni, Bisi, Lolli, & Sighinolfi, 2007), a self-report questionnaire assessing social anxiety symptoms. The Social Interaction Anxiety Scale made up of 19 items on a 5-point Likert scale (from 0 = "not at all characteristic of true of me" to 4 = "extremely characteristic of true of me"; score range: 0-76); higher scores indicate higher levels of social interaction anxiety symptoms
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Presence of Body Image Disorder symptoms
Exclusion Criteria:
-
Presence of a full-blown Body Image Disorder
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Presence of a psychotic/schizophrenic disorder
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Current treatment for a Body Image Disorder
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Padua | Padua | PD | Italy | 35131 |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- University of Padova
Investigators
None specified.Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
None provided.- 2936