An Intervention for Eating and Body Image Concerns Among Young Adult Women

Sponsor

University of Sheffield (Other)

Overall Status

Completed

CT.gov ID

NCT04665167

Collaborator

(none)

Enrollment

Location

Arms

2.5

Actual Duration (Months)

Patients Per Site Per Month

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

The primary aim of the current study is to assess acceptability and feasibility of online body image exposure and self-compassion interventions before conducting a larger RCT.

Condition or Disease	Intervention/Treatment	Phase
Eating Disorder Symptom Body Image Disturbance	Behavioral: Body image exposure Behavioral: Self-compassion	N/A

Detailed Description

This study will determine the feasibility and effectiveness of delivering an online therapy for eating pathology and body image disturbance. It will address body image and eating pathology in a non-clinical group of young adult women, who are at risk of developing such problems . The feasibility study will determine whether there are any difficulties that would need to be addressed in recruitment, online delivery and assessment of those treatments.

Study Design

Study Type:

Interventional

Actual Enrollment :

30 participants

Allocation:

Randomized

Intervention Model:

Parallel Assignment

Masking:

None (Open Label)

Primary Purpose:

Prevention

Official Title:

Feasibility of Online Exposure Therapy and Self-compassion Interventions for Eating and Body Image Concerns Among Young Adult Women

Actual Study Start Date :

Jan 13, 2021

Actual Primary Completion Date :

Feb 26, 2021

Actual Study Completion Date :

Mar 30, 2021

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/Treatment
Active Comparator: Body image exposure Guided non-judgmental exposure, 40 minutes total	Behavioral: Body image exposure Exposure therapy is a key element of evidence-based cognitive behaviour therapy for eating disorders . Body image exposure intervention involves deliberate, planned, and systematic exposure to the body image. Participants will be asked to stand so that they can see their whole body - far enough back. Participants will be asked to look at their bodies on screen. Participants will be continually encouraged by the facilitator for looking at and talking about the body parts.
Active Comparator: Self-compassion 8 Short self-compassion meditations, 40 minutes total	Behavioral: Self-compassion The self-compassion intervention condition consists of Neff's self-compassion exercises. These exercises are part of the self-compassion intervention condition. Meditation text used in this study is obtained from the following link https://self-compassion.org/category/exercises/.

Arm

Intervention/Treatment

Active Comparator: Body image exposure

Guided non-judgmental exposure, 40 minutes total

Behavioral: Body image exposure

Exposure therapy is a key element of evidence-based cognitive behaviour therapy for eating disorders . Body image exposure intervention involves deliberate, planned, and systematic exposure to the body image. Participants will be asked to stand so that they can see their whole body - far enough back. Participants will be asked to look at their bodies on screen. Participants will be continually encouraged by the facilitator for looking at and talking about the body parts.

Active Comparator: Self-compassion

8 Short self-compassion meditations, 40 minutes total

Behavioral: Self-compassion

The self-compassion intervention condition consists of Neff's self-compassion exercises. These exercises are part of the self-compassion intervention condition. Meditation text used in this study is obtained from the following link https://self-compassion.org/category/exercises/.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

Number of participants recruited [will measure upon study termination (estimated at 2-3 months)]
30 participants

Secondary Outcome Measures

The rate of completion [will measure upon study termination (estimated at 2-3 months)]
assessed by the percentage of participants who complete the study questionnaires

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years and Older

Sexes Eligible for Study:

Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

Inclusion Criteria:

Body shape questionnaire score > 25
Age ≥18
Self-identified women
Be able to use a computer and having an Internet connection and webcam

Exclusion Criteria:

Insufficient knowledge of English
Learning disability, severe mental illness or alcohol/substance dependence, history of self-injuries, current eating disorder, current clinical depression
Psychiatric illness requiring secondary care intervention
Male
Under 18 years old
Body mass index below 18.5
Currently undergoing psychological therapies
No access to a tablet or computer with an internet connection