TY - JOUR
T1 - A randomized trial exploring mindfulness and gratitude exercises as eHealth-based micro-interventions for improving body satisfaction
AU - Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, Matthew
AU - Richardson, Ben
AU - Lewis, Vivienne
AU - Linardon, Jake
AU - Mills, Jacqueline
AU - Juknaitis, Kerry
AU - Lewis, Charlotte
AU - Coulson, Kim
AU - O'Donnell, Renee
AU - Arulkadacham, Lilani
AU - Ware, Anna
AU - Krug, Isabel
PY - 2019/6
Y1 - 2019/6
N2 - Despite theoretical arguments that brief app-based interventions could be a useful adjunct to longer traditional treatment programs, there has been limited evaluation of the acceptability, feasibility, and efficacy of these micro-interventions. In the present study, 247 women from the general population were randomly assigned to the intervention or wait-list control condition, and provided measurement of body satisfaction and related constructs (body image importance, confidence dealing with body image issues, eating pathology, and self-esteem) at baseline and 21-days (post-intervention). During the 21-day period, the treatment group received access to an eHealth platform containing a series of brief video activities (e.g., gratitude tasks, breathing, and relaxation) previously demonstrated in experimental studies to improve body satisfaction. Findings showed greater improvements in body satisfaction at post-intervention for the intervention group than the waitlist controls (Cohen's d =.42). Use of the intervention content was associated with immediate increases in state-like body satisfaction ratings, and the magnitude of these in-the-moment improvements was predictive of greater post-intervention symptom improvement and retention (ps <.05). However, the intervention did not produce change in constructs related to body satisfaction (Cohen's d ranged from 0.02 to 0.13). Overall, findings offer support for micro-interventions as a spot treatment for specific symptoms, and possible means to maintain engagement and motivation within a broader treatment program.
AB - Despite theoretical arguments that brief app-based interventions could be a useful adjunct to longer traditional treatment programs, there has been limited evaluation of the acceptability, feasibility, and efficacy of these micro-interventions. In the present study, 247 women from the general population were randomly assigned to the intervention or wait-list control condition, and provided measurement of body satisfaction and related constructs (body image importance, confidence dealing with body image issues, eating pathology, and self-esteem) at baseline and 21-days (post-intervention). During the 21-day period, the treatment group received access to an eHealth platform containing a series of brief video activities (e.g., gratitude tasks, breathing, and relaxation) previously demonstrated in experimental studies to improve body satisfaction. Findings showed greater improvements in body satisfaction at post-intervention for the intervention group than the waitlist controls (Cohen's d =.42). Use of the intervention content was associated with immediate increases in state-like body satisfaction ratings, and the magnitude of these in-the-moment improvements was predictive of greater post-intervention symptom improvement and retention (ps <.05). However, the intervention did not produce change in constructs related to body satisfaction (Cohen's d ranged from 0.02 to 0.13). Overall, findings offer support for micro-interventions as a spot treatment for specific symptoms, and possible means to maintain engagement and motivation within a broader treatment program.
KW - Body dissatisfaction
KW - Brief intervention
KW - eHealth
KW - Micro-intervention
KW - Smartphone app
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85060959865&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.mendeley.com/research/randomized-trial-exploring-mindfulness-gratitude-exercises-ehealthbased-microinterventions-improving
U2 - 10.1016/j.chb.2019.01.028
DO - 10.1016/j.chb.2019.01.028
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85060959865
SN - 0747-5632
VL - 95
SP - 58
EP - 65
JO - Computers in Human Behavior
JF - Computers in Human Behavior
ER -