Evaluating a body image school-based intervention in India: A randomized controlled trial

Lewis-Smith, Helena; Garbett, Kirsty; Chaudhry, Anshula; Dhillon, Megha; Shroff, Hemal; White, Paul; Diedrichs, Phillippa

Abstract

Body dissatisfaction is highly prevalent among adolescents in low- and middle- income countries, including in India. However, evidence-based interventions are lacking. This study evaluated the efficacy of a school-based mixed-gender body image intervention among adolescents in India. A randomized controlled trial was conducted among 568 (43 % girls) Year 7 students (aged 11–14; 94 % aged 12–13) in six schools in Delhi. Each school was randomly allocated to receive five 45-minute intervention sessions delivered by trained psychologists or a wait-list control condition. The primary outcome of body image and related secondary outcomes were assessed at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up. Intention-to-treat linear mixed models analyses showed improvements in body image relative to the control group at post-intervention and 3-month follow-up. Significant improvements were identified at post-intervention for internalization, life disengagement, disordered eating, self-esteem, and negative affect, with effects maintained in nearly all outcomes (girls only - internalization, boys only - life disengagement) at 3-month follow-up. This study presents the first mixed-gender school-based body image intervention in India, which was efficacious in improving urban adolescents’ body image, disordered eating, and related outcomes.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 14, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Jan 4, 2023
• Publication Date: Mar 1, 2023
• Deposit Date: Dec 15, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 9, 2023
• Journal: Body Image
• Print ISSN: 1740-1445
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 44
• Pages: 148-156
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.12.006
• Keywords: Body Image; India; Adolescents; School; Intervention; Randomized Controlled Trial
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/10254539