Randomized controlled trial of an online mother-daughter body image and well-being intervention.

Abstract

Poor body image is a public health issue. Mothers are a key influence on adolescent girls' body image. This study evaluated an accessible, scalable, low-intensity internet-based intervention delivered to mothers (Dove Self Esteem Project Website for Parents) on mothers' and their adolescent daughters' body image and psychosocial well-being. Method: British mother-daughter dyads (N ϭ 235) participated in a cluster randomized controlled trial (assessment-only control; mothers viewed the website without structured guidance [website-unstructured]; mothers viewed the website via a tailored pathway [website-tailored]). Dyads completed standardized self-report measures of body image, related risk factors, and psychosocial outcomes at baseline, 2 weeks post-exposure, 6-week, and 12-month follow-up. Results: Dyadic models showed that relative to the control, mothers who viewed the website reported significantly higher self-esteem at post-exposure (website-tailored), higher weight esteem at 6-week follow-up (website-tailored), lower negative affect at 12-month follow-up (website-tailored), engaged in more self-reported conversations with their daughters about body image at post-exposure and 6-week follow-up, and were 3-4.66 times more likely to report seeking additional support for body image issues at post-exposure (website-tailored), 6-week, and 12-month (website-tailored) follow-up. Daughters whose mothers viewed the website had higher self-esteem and reduced negative affect at 6-week follow-up. There were no differences on daughters' body image, and risk factors among mothers or daughters, at post-exposure or follow-up. Tailoring website content appeared beneficial. Conclusions: This intervention offers a promising 'first-step' toward improving psychosocial well-being among mothers and daughters. In order to further optimize the intervention, future research to improve body image-related outcomes and to understand mechanisms for change would be beneficial.

A Web-Based Self-Help Psychosocial Intervention for Adolescents Distressed by Appearance-Affecting Conditions and Injuries (Young Persons’ Face IT): Feasibility Study for a Parallel Randomized Controlled Trial

“…The BES-A would be an appropriate primary outcome measure for a future RCT. The BES-A is frequently used in adolescent body image research because it is reliable, has normative data, and has good face validity among adolescents (eg, a study by Diedrichs et al [38]); it provides a general measure of satisfaction with appearance and is not condition specific, making it appropriate for those with any appearance-affecting condition. In this study, YP fed back that it was quick and easy to complete, and results indicated it is sensitive to change among those completing the intervention.…”

Improving uptake and engagement with child body image interventions delivered to mothers: Understanding mother and daughter preferences for intervention content

“…Indeed, a recent study by Diedrichs et al (2016) found that tailoring intervention content to suit the preferences of individual mothers was effective in improving mothers' engagement with the intervention and maternal psychosocial outcomes, but had little impact on daughters' outcomes. Consequently, during the intervention development and implementation phase of child body image interventions delivered to parents, daughters' preferences are likely to require attention.…”

“…Dyads were recruited for a larger study evaluating an online intervention for mothers that was designed to improve their adolescent daughters' body image (Diedrichs et al, 2016). Of the total sample recruited, 190 dyads reported their preferences for body image intervention content and their data is reported here.…”

“…There is some evidence that interventions tailored to users' preferences are more effective (Noar, Benac, & Harris, 2007). For example, a recent study evaluating an online intervention for mothers that was designed to improve their own, and their daughters', body image found that individually tailoring the intervention to mothers' preferences for content significantly improved maternal engagement and psychosocial outcomes (Diedrichs et al, 2016). Involving 'end-users' in intervention design and development through consultation and participatory approaches has also been identified as crucial to the effectiveness and broad scale uptake of successful body image interventions delivered directly to adolescent girls and young adult women (Becker, Stice, Shaw, & Woda, 2009).…”

Part of the problem or part of the solution? Plastic surgeons and body image dissatisfaction

“…70 There is also evidence that brief online interventions delivered to parents can improve both their own and their children's body image and psychological wellbeing. 71 At a wider level, research has shown that increasing appearance diversity in advertising and media is beneficial for body image. 72,73 Social policy initiatives, such as voluntary codes of conduct to increase acceptance of diversity in appearance and promote positive body image in advertising and media have been developed in Australia, Canada and the UK.…”