The impact of body diversity vs thin-idealistic media messaging on health outcomes: an experimental study
Description
Research hypotheses: It was hypothesised that exposure to the body diversity intervention video would increase body satisfaction and body compassion, and decrease behavioural intentions, the internalisation of the thin-ideal and weight bias; and that exposure to the thin-ideal intervention would decrease body satisfaction and body compassion, and increase behavioural intentions, the internalisation of the thin-ideal and weight bias. Notable findings: - Those exposed to the body diversity intervention reported a greater reduction in weight bias compared to the other conditions. - Those exposed to the thin-ideal intervention reported a greater increase in intentions to eat healthily compared to the other conditions. - There were no differences between groups for body satisfaction, body compassion, internalisation of the thin-ideal and behavioural intentions to exercise and manage weight. How was data collected: Data was collected online via Qualtrics. Variables used in analysis: Intervention group - body diversity (1), thin-ideal (2), control (3) Media literacy (total) - measured only at baseline as a covariate Outcome variables: Body Compassion (total) - baseline + post-intervention Body Satisfaction (total) - baseline + post-intervention Internalisation of the thin-ideal (total) - baseline + post-intervention Weight bias (total) - baseline + post-intervention Behavioural intentions (sub-scale totals for healthy eating, exercise, weight management) - baseline + post-intervention.