Evaluating the effectiveness of ecological momentary assessment and intervention targeting body checking behaviors

This study investigated the efficacy of using ecological momentary assessment and intervention (EMA/EMI) to target body checking behaviors. Body checking has been shown to increase body dissatisfaction and play a role in eating disorders, but few treatments specifically targeting body checking have...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Eating disorders 2019-11, Vol.27 (6), p.521-537
Main Authors: Smith, Jamie M., Whisenhunt, Brooke L., Buchanan, Erin M., Hudson, Danae L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Behavior
Body Image
Cognitive aspects
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive-behavioral factors
Eating disorders
Ecological Momentary Assessment
Efficacy
Evaluation
Feeding and Eating Disorders - therapy
Female
Humans
Intervention
Smartphone
Students
Undergraduate students
Young Adult
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Summary:This study investigated the efficacy of using ecological momentary assessment and intervention (EMA/EMI) to target body checking behaviors. Body checking has been shown to increase body dissatisfaction and play a role in eating disorders, but few treatments specifically targeting body checking have been empirically evaluated. Forty-four female undergraduates who reported engaging in frequent body checking behaviors participated in a five-day study wherein they were assessed five times a day via smart phone. On the final two days of the study, intervention messages were sent containing cognitive-behavioral strategies for decreasing body checking. Body checking behaviors increased within each day, but decreased across the five day intervention period. Pretest to posttest analyses found healthy improvements in a number of body image related constructs. These results highlight that 1) body checking appears to increase throughout the day, and 2) targeting body checking behaviors through brief EMA/EMI may be a useful clinical tool.
ISSN:1064-0266
1532-530X
DOI:10.1080/10640266.2018.1560850