More than Body Appearance (MBA): A randomized controlled trial aimed to promote a positive body image in young females with body dissatisfaction

Objective: Positive body image may represent a protective factor for the development of Eating Disorders (Piran, 2015). The aim of the study was to test the efficacy of an online psychological intervention (More Than Body Appearance, MBA) focused on body functionality appreciation (i.e., a facet of positive body image) in enhance positive body image and reduce body dissatisfaction in young females with body dissatisfaction. Method: Forty-seven females (Mage = 21.81) who scored above the clinical cut-off on a self-report questionnaire assessing body dissatisfaction were randomized into two groups: experimental group (n = 24) and waiting-list group (n = 23). The experimental group started the intervention at baseline (T0) for 15 consecutive days (until T1). The waiting-list group waited for 15 days before starting the intervention (T1 to T2). Participants completed questionnaires about body dissatisfaction (i.e., Questionario sul Dismorfismo Corporeo, QDC) and positive body image (i.e., Functionality Appreciation Scale, FAS; Body Appreciation Scale-2, BAS-2) at baseline (T0), 15 days from baseline (T1), and 30 days from baseline (T2). Results: Repeated measure Analyses of Variances (ANOVAs) showed Group (experimental vs. waiting-list) × Time (T0 vs. T1) interactions on QDC (p = .04), FAS (p < .001), and BAS-2 (p = .01), indicating a greater decrease in body dissatisfaction and an increase in positive body image in the experimental group compared to the waiting-list group at T1. Discussion: A 15-days online psychological intervention focused on functionality appreciation may enhance positive body image and reduce body dissatisfaction in young females with body dissatisfaction.