A cognitive dissonance body image intervention ‘Free Being Me’ delivered by Guide leaders to adolescent Girl Guides in India: A pilot and acceptability trial

Paraskeva, Nicole; Pegram, Georgina; Goel, Radhika; Mandhaani, Manika; Suneja, Vanya; White, Paul; Diedrichs, Phillippa

Abstract

This pilot study assessed the acceptability and pre-post intervention effects of a cognitive dissonance-based body image intervention, Free Being Me, delivered by Guide leaders to adolescent girls in India. Girls aged 11–14 years (Mage = 12.6, N = 117), who were members of the national scouting and guiding association of India, received the intervention across five weekly 1-hour group sessions. The primary outcome (body esteem) and secondary outcomes (self-esteem, internalisation of appearance ideals, negative and positive affect, and life disengagement) were measured pre-intervention and immediately post-intervention. The intervention was acceptable. Adolescent girls reported high levels of comfort (89%), enjoyment (90%), and perceived importance (92%) with suggestions for improvement including more interactive activities. Facilitator adherence and competence delivering Free Being Me was rated good. Significant within-groups pre-post intervention improvements in body esteem (Cohen's d = 0.28) and reductions in internalisation of appearance ideals (Cohen's d = 0.49) were identified. No changes to self-esteem, negative or positive affect, or life disengagement were observed. This study suggests that Free Being Me is acceptable for community-based delivery and Guide leader format with promising pre-post intervention effects. Going forward, a randomised controlled trial is necessary to make confident interpretations on the effectiveness of Free Being Me.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 25, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Dec 22, 2023
• Publication Date: Mar 31, 2024
• Deposit Date: Jan 10, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 11, 2024
• Journal: Body Image
• Print ISSN: 1740-1445
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 48
• Article Number: 101658
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2023.101658
• Keywords: Adolescent girls, Pilot, Acceptability, Dissonance-based intervention, Body esteem, India
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/11599501