This study tested body functionality based online program “Expand your horizon”. In the current study, we examined whether a positive body image program “Expand your Horizons” can be effective not only in modifying a positive body image but also such outcomes like body image quality of life. The program is designed to improve positive body image using writing assignments. One hundred and thirteen female students (M age – 22,08) were randomised to one week online programme “Expand your horizon” or control group. Body appreciation, body functionality, self-objectification and body image quality of life were measured at pretest and posttest. Participants in body image program experienced greater positive body image and body functionality compared to participants in control group. However, despite previous research that demonstrated relationship between body functionality and self-objectification or that focusing on body functionality could lead to lower level of self-objectification, in our study we do not confirmed that. Contarary to expectations no differences in body image quality of life and self-objectification were found between program participants and the control group. Also, there were no improvements in the control group over time. The result of the present study add to existing evidence that functionality based intervention can improve positive body image and body functionality in female students. Also it appears to be beneficial when delivered via internet.
| Published in | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences (Volume 11, Issue 1) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.pbs.20221101.15 |
| Page(s) | 37-41 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Female Students, Positive Body Image, Intervention
| [1] | Cash, T. F., & Pruzinsky, T. (Eds.). (1990). Body images: Development, deviance, and change. Guilford Press. |
| [2] | Seligman, M. E. P., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2000). Positive psychology: An introduction. American Psychologist, 55, 5–14. |
| [3] | Avalos, L. C., & Tylka, T. L. (2006). Exploring a model of intuitive eating with college women. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 53, 486–497. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-1067.53.4.486 |
| [4] | Hahn Oh, K., Wiseman, M. C., Hendrickson, J., Phillips, J. C., & Hayden, E. W. (2012). Testing the acceptance model of intuitive eating with college women athletes. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 36, 88–98. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0361684311433282 |
| [5] | Tylka, T. L., & Kroon Van Diest, A. M. (2013). The Intuitive Eating Scale–2: Item refinement and psychometric evaluation with college women and men. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 60 (1), 137–153. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0030893 |
| [6] | Andrew, R., Tiggemann, M., & Clark, L. (2015). The protective role of body appreciation against media-induced body dissatisfaction. Body Image, 15, 98–104. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2015.07.005. |
| [7] | Homan, K. J. & Tylka, T. L. (2015). Self-compassion moderates body comparison and appearance self-worth’s inverse relationships with body appreciation. Body Image, 15, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2015.04.007 |
| [8] | Wasylkiw, L., MacKinnon, A. L., & MacLellan, A. M. (2012). Exploring the link between self-compassion and body image in university women. Body Image, 9 (2), 236–245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2012.01.007 |
| [9] | Satinsky, S., Reece, M., Dennis, B., Sanders, S., & Bardzell, S. (2012). An assessment of body appreciation and its relationship to sexual function in women. Body Image, 9 (1), 137–144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2011.09.007 |
| [10] | Alleva, J. M., Martijn, C., Van Breukelen, G. J. P., Jansen, A., & Karos, K. (2015). Expand Your Horizon: A programme that improves body image and reduces self-objectification by training women to focus on body functionality. Body Image, 15, 81–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2015.07.001 |
| [11] | Alleva, J. M., Tylka, T. L., & Kroon Van Diest, A. M. (2017). The Functionality Appreciation Scale (FAS): Development and psychometric evaluation in U.S. community women and men. Body Image, 23, 28–44. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2017.07.008. |
| [12] | Bailey, K. A., Gammage, K. L., van Ingen, C., & Ditor, D. S. (2015). “It’s all about acceptance”: A qualitative study exploring a model of positive body image for people with spinal cord injury. Body Image, 15, 24–34. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2015.04.010. |
| [13] | Cash, T. F., & Smolak, L. (Eds.). (2011). Body image: A handbook of science, practice, and prevention (2nd ed.). The Guilford Press. |
| [14] | Alleva, J. M., Veldhuis, J., & Martijn, C. (2016). A pilot study investigating whether focusing on body functionality can protect women from the potential negative effects of viewing thin-ideal media images. Body Image, 17, 10–13. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2016.01.007. |
| [15] | Dunaev, J., Markey, C. H., & Brochu, P. M. (2018). An attitude of gratitude: The effects of body-focused gratitude on weight bias internalization and body image. Body Image, 25, 9–13. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2018.01.006. |
| [16] | Tylka, T. L., & Wood-Barcalow, N. L. (2015). The Body Appreciation Scale-2: Item refinement and psychometric evaluation. Body Image, 12, 53–67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2014.09.006 |
| [17] | McKinley, N. M., & Hyde, J. S. (1996). The objectified body consciousness scale: Development and validation. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 20 (2), 181–215. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-6402.1996.tb00467.x |
| [18] | Cash, T. F. (2004a). Body-image assessments: Manuals and questionnaires. Available from the author’s web site at http://www.body-images.com |
| [19] | Frisén, A., Lunde, C., & Berg, A. I. (2015). Developmental patterns in body esteem from late childhood to young adulthood: A growth curve analysis. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 12, 99–115. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17405629. 2014.951033 |
| [20] | Tiggemann, M., & Williamson, S. (2000). The effect of exercise on body satisfaction and self-esteem as a function of gender and age. Sex Roles: A Journal of Research, 43 (1-2), 119–127. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007095830095 |
| [21] | Avalos, L., Tylka, T. L., & Wood-Barcalow, N. (2005). The Body Appreciation Scale: Development and psychometric evaluation. Body Image, 2 (3), 285–297. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2005.06.002. |
| [22] | Tylka, T. L. (2006). Development and psychometric evaluation of a measure of intuitive eating. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 53 (2), 226–240. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.53.2.226 |
| [23] | Gillen, M. M. (2015). Associations between positive body image and indicators of men’s and women’s mental and physical health. Body Image, 13, 67–74. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2015.01.002. |
| [24] | Cash, T. F., & Fleming, E. C. (2002). The impact of body image experiences: Development of the Body Image Quality of Life Inventory. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 31 (4), 455–460. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.10033 |
APA Style
Egle Urvelyte, Aidas Perminas. (2022). Effectiveness of an Internet-based, Functionality Focused Program for Improving Positive Body Image. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, 11(1), 37-41. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20221101.15
ACS Style
Egle Urvelyte; Aidas Perminas. Effectiveness of an Internet-based, Functionality Focused Program for Improving Positive Body Image. Psychol. Behav. Sci. 2022, 11(1), 37-41. doi: 10.11648/j.pbs.20221101.15
AMA Style
Egle Urvelyte, Aidas Perminas. Effectiveness of an Internet-based, Functionality Focused Program for Improving Positive Body Image. Psychol Behav Sci. 2022;11(1):37-41. doi: 10.11648/j.pbs.20221101.15
Share This Article
Twitter
Linked In
Facebook
Copy
Download@article{10.11648/j.pbs.20221101.15,
author = {Egle Urvelyte and Aidas Perminas},
title = {Effectiveness of an Internet-based, Functionality Focused Program for Improving Positive Body Image},
journal = {Psychology and Behavioral Sciences},
volume = {11},
number = {1},
pages = {37-41},
doi = {10.11648/j.pbs.20221101.15},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20221101.15},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.pbs.20221101.15},
abstract = {This study tested body functionality based online program “Expand your horizon”. In the current study, we examined whether a positive body image program “Expand your Horizons” can be effective not only in modifying a positive body image but also such outcomes like body image quality of life. The program is designed to improve positive body image using writing assignments. One hundred and thirteen female students (M age – 22,08) were randomised to one week online programme “Expand your horizon” or control group. Body appreciation, body functionality, self-objectification and body image quality of life were measured at pretest and posttest. Participants in body image program experienced greater positive body image and body functionality compared to participants in control group. However, despite previous research that demonstrated relationship between body functionality and self-objectification or that focusing on body functionality could lead to lower level of self-objectification, in our study we do not confirmed that. Contarary to expectations no differences in body image quality of life and self-objectification were found between program participants and the control group. Also, there were no improvements in the control group over time. The result of the present study add to existing evidence that functionality based intervention can improve positive body image and body functionality in female students. Also it appears to be beneficial when delivered via internet.},
year = {2022}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - Effectiveness of an Internet-based, Functionality Focused Program for Improving Positive Body Image AU - Egle Urvelyte AU - Aidas Perminas Y1 - 2022/02/16 PY - 2022 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20221101.15 DO - 10.11648/j.pbs.20221101.15 T2 - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences JF - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences JO - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences SP - 37 EP - 41 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2328-7845 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20221101.15 AB - This study tested body functionality based online program “Expand your horizon”. In the current study, we examined whether a positive body image program “Expand your Horizons” can be effective not only in modifying a positive body image but also such outcomes like body image quality of life. The program is designed to improve positive body image using writing assignments. One hundred and thirteen female students (M age – 22,08) were randomised to one week online programme “Expand your horizon” or control group. Body appreciation, body functionality, self-objectification and body image quality of life were measured at pretest and posttest. Participants in body image program experienced greater positive body image and body functionality compared to participants in control group. However, despite previous research that demonstrated relationship between body functionality and self-objectification or that focusing on body functionality could lead to lower level of self-objectification, in our study we do not confirmed that. Contarary to expectations no differences in body image quality of life and self-objectification were found between program participants and the control group. Also, there were no improvements in the control group over time. The result of the present study add to existing evidence that functionality based intervention can improve positive body image and body functionality in female students. Also it appears to be beneficial when delivered via internet. VL - 11 IS - 1 ER -
Information
Email: