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All Outputs (68)

Mothers’ experiences of their sons’ appearance-altering combat injuries: Distressed and unsupported (2023)
Journal Article
Keeling, M., Williams, V. S., Harcourt, D., Kiff, J., & Williamson, H. (in press). Mothers’ experiences of their sons’ appearance-altering combat injuries: Distressed and unsupported. Military Behavioral Health, https://doi.org/10.1080/21635781.2023.2293896

Emerging evidence indicates that combat injuries that change appearance, such as limb loss and physical scarring, can impact psychosocial wellbeing of injured military veterans. Parents of young children with a visibly different appearance may experi... Read More about Mothers’ experiences of their sons’ appearance-altering combat injuries: Distressed and unsupported.

Congenital Melanocytic Naevus (CMN) through the lens: Using photo- elicitation interviews to explore adjustment in adolescents with a rare birthmark condition (2023)
Journal Article
Guest, E., Williamson, H., & Harcourt, D. (2024). Congenital Melanocytic Naevus (CMN) through the lens: Using photo- elicitation interviews to explore adjustment in adolescents with a rare birthmark condition. Body Image, 48, Article 101656. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2023.101656

Adolescents with the rare birthmarks congenital melanocytic naevi (CMN) experience physical and psychosocial challenges, many of which stem from looking different from the ‘norm’. However, some adjust and have positive experiences. Understanding the... Read More about Congenital Melanocytic Naevus (CMN) through the lens: Using photo- elicitation interviews to explore adjustment in adolescents with a rare birthmark condition.

Congenital melanocytic naevus (CMN) through the lens: Using photo-elicitation interviews to explore adjustment in adolescents with a rare birthmark condition (2023)
Journal Article
Guest, E., Williamson, H., & Harcourt, D. (2024). Congenital melanocytic naevus (CMN) through the lens: Using photo-elicitation interviews to explore adjustment in adolescents with a rare birthmark condition. Body Image, 48, Article 101656. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2023.101656

Adolescents with the rare birthmarks congenital melanocytic naevi (CMN) experience physical and psychosocial challenges, many of which stem from looking different from the ‘norm’. However, some adjust and have positive experiences. Understanding the... Read More about Congenital melanocytic naevus (CMN) through the lens: Using photo-elicitation interviews to explore adjustment in adolescents with a rare birthmark condition.

Evaluating a school-based body image lesson in Indonesia: A randomised controlled trial (2023)
Journal Article
Craddock, N., Budhraja, M., Garbett, K. M., Nasution, K., Gentili, C., Rizkiah, C., …Williamson, H. (2024). Evaluating a school-based body image lesson in Indonesia: A randomised controlled trial. Body Image, 48, Article 101654. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2023.101654

Negative body image is a common public health concern among adolescents, globally. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effectiveness, implementation fidelity, and acceptability of a single session, school-based universal body image inter... Read More about Evaluating a school-based body image lesson in Indonesia: A randomised controlled trial.

Health professionals’ experiences of supporting British Armed Forces veterans with conflict-related, appearance-altering injuries (2023)
Journal Article
Williams, V., Paskell, R., Zucchelli, F., & Williamson, H. (in press). Health professionals’ experiences of supporting British Armed Forces veterans with conflict-related, appearance-altering injuries. Military Behavioral Health,

Numerous British Armed Forces personnel have sustained conflict-related injuries that have altered their appearance. Previous evidence indicates this population may be at risk of appearance-related concerns and that civilian health professionals may... Read More about Health professionals’ experiences of supporting British Armed Forces veterans with conflict-related, appearance-altering injuries.

Training health professionals to support patients with appearance-affecting conditions: A pan-European evaluation of an acceptance and commitment therapy approach to patient communication (2023)
Journal Article
Zucchelli, F., Persson, M., Argyrides, M., Bigaki, M., Donnelly, O., Drevenšek, M., …Williamson, H. (2023). Training health professionals to support patients with appearance-affecting conditions: A pan-European evaluation of an acceptance and commitment therapy approach to patient communication. European Journal of Health Communication, 4(3), 53-71. https://doi.org/10.47368/ejhc.2023.304

AbstractMultidisciplinary health professionals (HPs) are involved in supporting patients who have conditions that affect their appearance. With appearance-associated distress common in this group, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) an... Read More about Training health professionals to support patients with appearance-affecting conditions: A pan-European evaluation of an acceptance and commitment therapy approach to patient communication.

Evaluating the efficacy of a social media-based intervention (Warna-Warni Waktu) to improve body image among young Indonesian women: Parallel randomized controlled trial (2023)
Journal Article
Garbett, K. M., Haywood, S., Craddock, N., Gentili, C., Nasution, K., Saraswati, L. A., …Williamson, H. (2023). Evaluating the efficacy of a social media-based intervention (Warna-Warni Waktu) to improve body image among young Indonesian women: Parallel randomized controlled trial. JMIR, 25, Article e42499. https://doi.org/10.2196/42499

BACKGROUND: Body dissatisfaction is a global issue, particularly among adolescent girls and young women. Effective body image interventions exist but face barriers to scaling up, particularly in lower- and middle-income countries, such as Indonesia,... Read More about Evaluating the efficacy of a social media-based intervention (Warna-Warni Waktu) to improve body image among young Indonesian women: Parallel randomized controlled trial.

Experiences and impact of the UK lockdown amongst adults who have a facial visible difference (2023)
Journal Article
Tollow, P., Hamlet, C., Zucchelli, F., Williamson, H., & Harcourt, D. (2023). Experiences and impact of the UK lockdown amongst adults who have a facial visible difference. Current Psychology, 42(23), 20337-20346. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-04089-5

Globally, COVID-19 has been shown to have had a wide ranging and significant impact on individuals’ daily living, and physical and mental health. However, there are some groups of individuals who may encounter unique challenges with regards to COVID-... Read More about Experiences and impact of the UK lockdown amongst adults who have a facial visible difference.

Predictors of adolescents’ response to a web-based intervention to improve psychosocial adjustment to having an appearance-affecting condition (Young Person’s Face IT): Prospective study (2023)
Journal Article
Zelihic, D., Feragen, K. B., Pripp, A. H., Nordgreen, T., Williamson, H., & Kling, J. (2023). Predictors of adolescents’ response to a web-based intervention to improve psychosocial adjustment to having an appearance-affecting condition (Young Person’s Face IT): Prospective study. JMIR Formative Research, 7, e35669. https://doi.org/10.2196/35669

Background: Adolescents with a condition affecting their appearance that results in a visible difference can be at risk of psychosocial distress and impaired adjustment. Evidence for the effectiveness of existing interventions in improving psychosoci... Read More about Predictors of adolescents’ response to a web-based intervention to improve psychosocial adjustment to having an appearance-affecting condition (Young Person’s Face IT): Prospective study.

Adolescents and parents’ perception of Young Person's Face IT: An online intervention for adolescents struggling with conditions affecting their appearance (2022)
Journal Article
Millgård, M., Feragen, K. B., Ullmann Miller, J., Arfa, S., Williamson, H., & Kling, J. (2022). Adolescents and parents’ perception of Young Person's Face IT: An online intervention for adolescents struggling with conditions affecting their appearance. Digital Health, 8, 20552076221147110. https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076221147110

Objective: A visible difference in appearance caused by a congenital or acquired condition can negatively affect adolescents’ psychosocial well-being. Young Person's Face IT (YPF) is an online intervention based on cognitive behavioural therapy and s... Read More about Adolescents and parents’ perception of Young Person's Face IT: An online intervention for adolescents struggling with conditions affecting their appearance.

Assessing the usability and acceptability of FaceIT@home: An online CBT intervention for people with visible differences (2022)
Journal Article
Norman, A., Veale, J., & Williamson, H. (2022). Assessing the usability and acceptability of FaceIT@home: An online CBT intervention for people with visible differences. Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, 15, https://doi.org/10.1017/S1754470X22000381

To increase access to support, an online psychosocial support tool for adults with visible differences was adapted for use without referral or supervision. This intervention combines a cognitive behavioural and social skills model of support. This st... Read More about Assessing the usability and acceptability of FaceIT@home: An online CBT intervention for people with visible differences.

Is it safe? Exploring positive and negative outcome changes following a web-based intervention for adolescents distressed by a visible difference (YP Face IT) (2022)
Journal Article
Kling, J., Zelihic, D., Williamson, H., & Feragan, K. B. (2022). Is it safe? Exploring positive and negative outcome changes following a web-based intervention for adolescents distressed by a visible difference (YP Face IT). Body Image, 43, 8-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.07.012

Despite the importance of making sure that psychological interventions are safe, research including both positive and negative effects of novel internet-delivered support is scarce. The aim of our study was to explore whether, and in what way, a new... Read More about Is it safe? Exploring positive and negative outcome changes following a web-based intervention for adolescents distressed by a visible difference (YP Face IT).

Body image and psychosocial well-being among UK military personnel and veterans who sustained appearance-altering conflict injuries (2022)
Journal Article
Keeling, M., Williamson, H., Williams, V., Kiff, J., Evans, S., Murphy, D., & Harcourt, D. (2023). Body image and psychosocial well-being among UK military personnel and veterans who sustained appearance-altering conflict injuries. Military Psychology, 35(1), 12-26. https://doi.org/10.1080/08995605.2022.2058302

A modest but significant number of military personnel sustained injuries during deployments resulting in an altered-appearance (e.g., limb loss and/or scarring). Civilian research indicates that appearance-altering injuries can affect psychosocial we... Read More about Body image and psychosocial well-being among UK military personnel and veterans who sustained appearance-altering conflict injuries.

Acceptability and feasibility of an online psychosocial intervention for Dutch adolescents with a visible difference: A mixed-methods study (2022)
Journal Article
van Dalen, M., Pasmans, S., Aendekerk, M., Mathijssen, I., Koudstaal, M., Williamson, H., …Okkerse, J. (2022). Acceptability and feasibility of an online psychosocial intervention for Dutch adolescents with a visible difference: A mixed-methods study. Body Image, 41, 298-307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.03.003

Adolescents with a visible difference can experience difficult social situations, (e.g., people staring or making unwanted comments) and are at risk for mental health problems. Unfortunately, interventions for adolescents with a visible difference ex... Read More about Acceptability and feasibility of an online psychosocial intervention for Dutch adolescents with a visible difference: A mixed-methods study.

Reducing social anxiety in adolescents distressed by a visible difference: Results from a randomised control trial of a web-based intervention (2022)
Journal Article
Zelihić, D., van Dalen, M., Kling, J., Pripp, A. H., Nordgreen, T., Kvalem, I. L., …Okkerse, J. M. (2022). Reducing social anxiety in adolescents distressed by a visible difference: Results from a randomised control trial of a web-based intervention. Body Image, 40, 295-309. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.01.008

A visible difference to the face or body may challenge adolescents’ adjustment and engagement in life activities, where some require psychosocial support. However, evidence is limited for whether existing interventions for this adolescent group reduc... Read More about Reducing social anxiety in adolescents distressed by a visible difference: Results from a randomised control trial of a web-based intervention.

A novel, scalable social media-based intervention Warna-Warni Waktu to reduce body dissatisfaction among young Indonesian women: Protocol for a parallel randomized controlled trial (2022)
Journal Article
Garbett, K. M., Craddock, N., Haywood, S., Nasution, K., White, P., Saraswati, L. A., …Williamson, H. (2022). A novel, scalable social media-based intervention Warna-Warni Waktu to reduce body dissatisfaction among young Indonesian women: Protocol for a parallel randomized controlled trial. JMIR Research Protocols, 11(1), Article e33596. https://doi.org/10.2196/33596

Background: Despite the prevalence of body dissatisfaction among young Indonesian women and its consequential negative impacts, there are currently no evidence-based, culturally appropriate interventions to tackle this issue. Therefore, there is a ne... Read More about A novel, scalable social media-based intervention Warna-Warni Waktu to reduce body dissatisfaction among young Indonesian women: Protocol for a parallel randomized controlled trial.

An acceptance and commitment therapy prototype mobile program for individuals with a visible difference: Mixed methods feasibility study (2022)
Journal Article
Zucchelli, F., Donnelly, O., Rush, E., White, P., Gwyther, H., Williamson, H., & The VTCT Foundation Research Team at the Centre for Appearance Research. (2022). An acceptance and commitment therapy prototype mobile program for individuals with a visible difference: Mixed methods feasibility study. JMIR Formative Research, 6(1), Article e33449. https://doi.org/10.2196/33449

Background: Mobile apps may offer a valuable platform for delivering evidence-based psychological interventions for individuals with atypical appearances, or visible differences, who experience psychosocial appearance concerns such as appearance-base... Read More about An acceptance and commitment therapy prototype mobile program for individuals with a visible difference: Mixed methods feasibility study.

Recruiting hard-to-engage groups to online psychosocial interventions: Experiences from an RCT study targeting adolescents with a visible difference (2021)
Journal Article
Kling, J., Nordgreen, T., Kvalem, I. L., Williamson, H., & Feragen, K. B. (2021). Recruiting hard-to-engage groups to online psychosocial interventions: Experiences from an RCT study targeting adolescents with a visible difference. Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 24, Article 100869. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conctc.2021.100869

Online interventions have the potential to reach individuals who are otherwise difficult to engage due to stigma and sensitive topics. However, these individuals also tend to be hard to recruit in clinical trials, a crucial step in order to provide e... Read More about Recruiting hard-to-engage groups to online psychosocial interventions: Experiences from an RCT study targeting adolescents with a visible difference.

“It's tough because I see that it's upsetting her…”: A qualitative exploration of parents’ perceptions of talking with their adolescents about having a visible difference (2021)
Journal Article
Zelihić, D., Williamson, H., Kling, J., & Feragen, K. B. (2021). “It's tough because I see that it's upsetting her…”: A qualitative exploration of parents’ perceptions of talking with their adolescents about having a visible difference. Body Image, 38, 306-316. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2021.05.006

Many adolescents live with a visible difference that affects their lives in profound ways, but studies investigating parents’ perceptions of raising appearance issues during conversations with their adolescent are lacking. As part of a larger study e... Read More about “It's tough because I see that it's upsetting her…”: A qualitative exploration of parents’ perceptions of talking with their adolescents about having a visible difference.

"Have we done enough?" A cross-condition exploration of the experiences of parents caring for a child with an appearance-affecting condition or injury (2021)
Journal Article
Thornton, M., Harcourt, D., Deave, T., Kiff, J., & Williamson, H. (2021). "Have we done enough?" A cross-condition exploration of the experiences of parents caring for a child with an appearance-affecting condition or injury. Developmental Neurorehabilitation, 24(6), 418-428. https://doi.org/10.1080/17518423.2021.1901150

Children and young people (CYP) with appearance-affecting conditions/injuries report common pervasive psychosocial difficulties, regardless of cause, nature or extent of their visible differences. Parents or carers can also experience psychosocial di... Read More about "Have we done enough?" A cross-condition exploration of the experiences of parents caring for a child with an appearance-affecting condition or injury.