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A comic-based body image intervention for adolescents in semi-rural Indian schools: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Lewis-Smith, Helena; Hasan, Farheen; Ahuja, Latika; White, Paul; Diedrichs, Phillippa C.

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Authors

Farheen Hasan

Latika Ahuja

Paul White Paul.White@uwe.ac.uk
Professor in Applied Statistics



Abstract

Adolescents in India experience body dissatisfaction, however, empirically supported interventions are lacking. This paper describes the protocol for the development, acceptability testing, and cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a six-session comic-based intervention, which aims to improve body image and related outcomes among adolescents in semi-rural Indian schools. If found to be acceptable and effective, UNICEF will disseminate the intervention across schools in eight states of India. The acceptability study will be conducted with 24 students in Classes 6-8 (age 11-14) and nine teachers from Hindi-medium government schools using interviews and focus groups. The subsequent RCT will be conducted with 2400 students, with schools randomized to either the comic-based intervention or lessons-as-usual (control) groups. The primary outcome is body esteem, and secondary outcomes are disordered eating, appearance ideal internalization, body-image-related life disengagement, self-esteem, negative affect, and positive affect. Additional exploratory outcome measures are skin colour dissatisfaction, body hair dissatisfaction, appearance-based teasing, and endorsement of traditional gender roles. These outcomes will be examined at three timepoints: baseline (T1), 1 week-post-intervention (T2), and 12-weeks follow-up (T3). Analyses will compare outcomes in the intervention with the control group. This will be the first study to evaluate a body image intervention for adolescents in semi-rural Indian schools. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.]

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date May 27, 2022
Online Publication Date Jun 21, 2022
Publication Date Sep 1, 2022
Deposit Date Jun 7, 2022
Publicly Available Date Jul 11, 2022
Journal Body Image
Print ISSN 1740-1445
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 42
Pages 183-196
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.05.013
Keywords comic-based; body image; intervention; adolescents; semi-rural Indian schools; randomized controlled trial
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/9613736

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