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Comics as a body image intervention among adolescents in Indian Hindi medium schools: insights from an acceptability study.

Ahuja, L; Hasan, F; Diedrichs, P C; Lewis-Smith, H

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Authors

L Ahuja

F Hasan



Abstract

Indian adolescents experience body dissatisfaction. However, empirically supported interventions are lacking, particularly in lower socio-economic regions of India. This paper describes the acceptability testing of a six-session teacher-led comics-based intervention, aiming to improve body image and related outcomes among adolescents in Indian Hindi medium schools. Thirty-five students (50% girls; = 12.3 years; = 13 years) and nine teachers (11% women) from Hindi medium schools in Rajasthan, India, completed a quantitative acceptability questionnaire regarding comics that target body dissatisfaction and associated risk factors. They also participated in online or telephone semi-structured interviews to share in-depth feedback, with teachers providing additional feedback on an accompanying teacher guide. The quantitative data were analysed descriptively, with the interviews analysed using qualitative codebook thematic analysis. Quantitative analyses revealed that 73% of students felt the comics made them feel good about themselves. Qualitative analyses revealed four themes: (1) body dissatisfaction is a concern; (2) the comics are powerful; (3) increasing ease of understanding; (4) a teacher guide to aid delivery. This study demonstrates acceptability of a novel teacher-led comics-based body image intervention for adolescents in Indian Hindi medium schools from lower socio-economic settings. These findings are currently informing intervention optimizations, which will be evaluated in a randomized controlled effectiveness trial. If found to be effective, this intervention will be disseminated across eight Indian states by UNICEF. This trial has been registered with ClinicalTrials.gov; a database of privately and publicly funded studies conducted around the world. Registration date: 2nd May 2020; Registration ID: (NCT04317755). https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04317755?term=NCT04317755&draw=2&rank=1. [Abstract copyright: © The Author(s) 2022.]

Citation

Ahuja, L., Hasan, F., Diedrichs, P. C., & Lewis-Smith, H. (in press). Comics as a body image intervention among adolescents in Indian Hindi medium schools: insights from an acceptability study. Global Mental Health, 9, 460-469. https://doi.org/10.1017/gmh.2022.50

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Aug 26, 2022
Online Publication Date Sep 29, 2022
Deposit Date Feb 1, 2023
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Global mental health
Electronic ISSN 2054-4251
Publisher Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 9
Pages 460-469
DOI https://doi.org/10.1017/gmh.2022.50
Keywords Adolescents, intervention, India, school, body image, Acceptability, comics
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/10391876
Publisher URL https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/global-mental-health/article/comics-as-a-body-image-intervention-among-adolescents-in-indian-hindi-medium-schools-insights-from-an-acceptability-study/665B959987034DBA67FFF0DC34553675
Related Public URLs https://www.dove.com/us/en/dove-self-esteem-project/our-mission.html

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