Does a Facebook-enhanced Mindful Self-Compassion intervention improve body image? An evaluation study

•A Mindful Self-Compassion workshop plus Facebook discussion group was evaluated.•Facets of body concern, body appreciation, and self-compassion improved at posttest.•All improvements were maintained at 1-month follow-up.•Except for body dissatisfaction, improvements were maintained at 3-month follo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Body image 2020-09, Vol.34, p.259-269
Main Authors: Seekis, Veya, Bradley, Graham L., Duffy, Amanda L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Body appreciation
Body concerns
Body Image - psychology
Empathy
Female
Humans
Intervention
Mindfulness - methods
Self Concept
Self-compassion
Social Media
Upward appearance comparison
Young Adult
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Summary:•A Mindful Self-Compassion workshop plus Facebook discussion group was evaluated.•Facets of body concern, body appreciation, and self-compassion improved at posttest.•All improvements were maintained at 1-month follow-up.•Except for body dissatisfaction, improvements were maintained at 3-month follow-up.•A common humanity strategy predicted improvements in body appreciation. This study evaluates a brief intervention aimed at improving body image. The intervention comprised a Mindful Self-Compassion workshop complemented by a group discussion on Facebook. Young women (Mage = 18.31), screened for body concerns, were allocated by university campus to a 50-minute workshop intervention (n = 42) or a waitlist control (n = 34). Following the workshop, participants in the intervention group utilized self-compassion techniques when experiencing appearance distress and posted about their experiences on a private Facebook group three times per week for two weeks. Findings showed that, relative to control, the intervention group experienced lower upward appearance comparison, social appearance anxiety, body dissatisfaction, and drive for thinness, and higher body appreciation and self-compassion, at posttest and 1-month follow-up. All effects, except those for body dissatisfaction, were held at 3-month follow-up. Additionally, common humanity predicted gains in body appreciation from pretest to posttest. The Mindful Self-Compassion intervention involving a Facebook group may have resonated with young women as it allowed them to share moments of self-compassionate body image experiences in a private and supportive environment.
ISSN:1740-1445
1873-6807
DOI:10.1016/j.bodyim.2020.07.006