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A Meta-Analytic Review of Stand-Alone Interventions to Improve Body Image

Author

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  • Jessica M Alleva
  • Paschal Sheeran
  • Thomas L Webb
  • Carolien Martijn
  • Eleanor Miles

Abstract

Objective: Numerous stand-alone interventions to improve body image have been developed. The present review used meta-analysis to estimate the effectiveness of such interventions, and to identify the specific change techniques that lead to improvement in body image. Methods: The inclusion criteria were that (a) the intervention was stand-alone (i.e., solely focused on improving body image), (b) a control group was used, (c) participants were randomly assigned to conditions, and (d) at least one pretest and one posttest measure of body image was taken. Effect sizes were meta-analysed and moderator analyses were conducted. A taxonomy of 48 change techniques used in interventions targeted at body image was developed; all interventions were coded using this taxonomy. Results: The literature search identified 62 tests of interventions (N = 3,846). Interventions produced a small-to-medium improvement in body image (d+ = 0.38), a small-to-medium reduction in beauty ideal internalisation (d+ = -0.37), and a large reduction in social comparison tendencies (d+ = -0.72). However, the effect size for body image was inflated by bias both within and across studies, and was reliable but of small magnitude once corrections for bias were applied. Effect sizes for the other outcomes were no longer reliable once corrections for bias were applied. Several features of the sample, intervention, and methodology moderated intervention effects. Twelve change techniques were associated with improvements in body image, and three techniques were contra-indicated. Conclusions: The findings show that interventions engender only small improvements in body image, and underline the need for large-scale, high-quality trials in this area. The review identifies effective techniques that could be deployed in future interventions.

Suggested Citation

  • Jessica M Alleva & Paschal Sheeran & Thomas L Webb & Carolien Martijn & Eleanor Miles, 2015. "A Meta-Analytic Review of Stand-Alone Interventions to Improve Body Image," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(9), pages 1-32, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0139177
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0139177
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    Cited by:

    1. Glòria Tort-Nasarre & Mercè Pollina Pocallet & Eva Artigues-Barberà, 2021. "The Meaning and Factors That Influence the Concept of Body Image: Systematic Review and Meta-Ethnography from the Perspectives of Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-16, January.
    2. Mia Scheffers & Marijtje A J van Duijn & Ruud J Bosscher & Durk Wiersma & Robert A Schoevers & Jooske T van Busschbach, 2017. "Psychometric properties of the Dresden Body Image Questionnaire: A multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis across sex and age in a Dutch non-clinical sample," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(7), pages 1-18, July.
    3. Tufan Nayir & Ersin Uskun & Mustafa Volkan Yürekli & Hacer Devran & Ayşe Çelik & Ramazan Azim Okyay, 2016. "Does Body Image Affect Quality of Life?: A Population Based Study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(9), pages 1-13, September.
    4. Manuel Alcaraz-Ibáñez & Adrian Paterna & Álvaro Sicilia & Mark D. Griffiths, 2021. "A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Relationship between Body Dissatisfaction and Morbid Exercise Behaviour," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-19, January.
    5. Marlies E. Rekkers & Lisanne Aardenburg & Mia Scheffers & Annemarie A. van Elburg & Jooske T. van Busschbach, 2022. "Shifting the Focus: A Pilot Study on the Effects of Positive Body Exposure on Body Satisfaction, Body Attitude, Eating Pathology and Depressive Symptoms in Female Patients with Eating Disorders," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-15, September.

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