Examining the efficacy of video-based microinterventions for improving risk and protective factors for disordered eating among young adult women.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the effects of mindfulness-based microinterventions on risk and protective factors for disordered eating in response to appearance-ideal media.
Results Summary
Mindfulness showed significant immediate benefits in reducing state appearance-ideal internalization, perceived sociocultural pressures, distress, and improving mood, with sustained improvements in trait appearance-ideal internalization and body appreciation at 1-week follow-up. However, no effects were observed on state weight/appearance satisfaction, trait perceived pressures, negative affect, or body image psychological flexibility.
Population
Undergraduate women (N = 202)
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Immediate effects assessed post-intervention; follow-up at 1 week
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mindfulness microintervention | decrease | state appearance-ideal internalization | undergraduate women | Glass's Δ effect sizes = .40-.94 | significant immediate benefits | #1 |
dissonance microintervention | decrease | state appearance-ideal internalization | undergraduate women | Glass's Δ effect sizes = .40-.94 | significant immediate benefits | #2 |
mindfulness microintervention | decrease | perceived sociocultural pressures | undergraduate women | Glass's Δ effect sizes = .40-.94 | significant immediate benefits | #3 |
dissonance microintervention | decrease | perceived sociocultural pressures | undergraduate women | Glass's Δ effect sizes = .40-.94 | significant immediate benefits | #4 |
mindfulness microintervention | decrease | related distress | undergraduate women | Glass's Δ effect sizes = .40-.94 | significant immediate benefits | #5 |
dissonance microintervention | decrease | related distress | undergraduate women | Glass's Δ effect sizes = .40-.94 | significant immediate benefits | #6 |
mindfulness microintervention | increase | mood | undergraduate women | Glass's Δ effect sizes = .40-.94 | significant immediate benefits | #7 |
dissonance microintervention | increase | mood | undergraduate women | Glass's Δ effect sizes = .40-.94 | significant immediate benefits | #8 |
mindfulness microintervention | no change | state weight satisfaction | undergraduate women | - | no benefits | #9 |
dissonance microintervention | no change | state weight satisfaction | undergraduate women | - | no benefits | #10 |
mindfulness microintervention | no change | state appearance satisfaction | undergraduate women | - | no benefits | #11 |
dissonance microintervention | no change | state appearance satisfaction | undergraduate women | - | no benefits | #12 |
mindfulness microintervention | decrease | trait appearance-ideal internalization | undergraduate women | Δ = .40 | improved | #13 |
dissonance microintervention | decrease | trait appearance-ideal internalization | undergraduate women | Δ = .42 | improved | #14 |
mindfulness microintervention | decrease | weight and shape concerns | undergraduate women | Δ = .27 [ns] | improved | #15 |
dissonance microintervention | decrease | weight and shape concerns | undergraduate women | Δ = .44 | improved | #16 |
mindfulness microintervention | increase | body appreciation | undergraduate women | Δ = .39 | improved | #17 |
dissonance microintervention | increase | body appreciation | undergraduate women | Δ = .46 | improved | #18 |
mindfulness microintervention | no change | trait perceived pressures | undergraduate women | - | no effects | #19 |
dissonance microintervention | no change | trait perceived pressures | undergraduate women | - | no effects | #20 |
mindfulness microintervention | no change | negative affect | undergraduate women | - | no effects | #21 |
dissonance microintervention | no change | negative affect | undergraduate women | - | no effects | #22 |
mindfulness microintervention | no change | body image psychological flexibility | undergraduate women | - | no effects | #23 |
dissonance microintervention | no change | body image psychological flexibility | undergraduate women | - | no effects | #24 |
mindfulness microintervention | no change | state outcomes from premedia to postmedia exposure | undergraduate women | - | no differential changes | #25 |
dissonance microintervention | no change | state outcomes from premedia to postmedia exposure | undergraduate women | - | no differential changes | #26 |
OBJECTIVE: Brief self-guided activities designed for focused and immediate benefits, termed microinterventions, have the potential to aid reach and engagement in mental health interventions; however further validation is needed. This study evaluated effects of two microinterventions for responding to appearance-ideal media on risk and protective factors for disordered eating. METHOD: Undergraduate women (N = 202, M RESULTS: Both mindfulness and dissonance groups reported significant immediate benefits to state appearance-ideal internalization, perceived sociocultural pressures and related distress, and mood, compared to educational control (Glass's Δ effect sizes = .40-.94), but not state weight or appearance satisfaction. At 1-week follow-up, mindfulness and dissonance groups demonstrated improved trait appearance-ideal internalization (Δ = .40 and .42), weight and shape concerns (Δ = .27 [ns] and .44), and body appreciation (Δ = .39 and .46) compared to the educational control. There were no effects on trait perceived pressures, negative affect, or body image psychological flexibility, and no differential changes in state outcomes from premedia to postmedia exposure. DISCUSSION: Microinterventions using mindfulness and dissonance techniques show promise for improving some risk and potential protective factors for disordered eating in the immediate and short-term. Further research is required to substantiate their place within the spectrum of eating disorder prevention, early intervention and treatment techniques.