Comparing a Self-Compassion Intervention to a Dissonance-Based Intervention for Body Image Distress Open Access

Abstract

Given the high value placed on physical attractiveness for women, change-focused strategies may be limited in their ability to improve body image. Acceptance-focused self-compassion interventions may potentially be a more sustainable way to address body image distress (BID). The present study compared a novel self-compassion (SC) intervention for young adult women with BID to a change-focused dissonance-based (DB) intervention, as well as a no treatment control group. Each intervention was hypothesized to demonstrate a distinct pattern of effects on specific indices of BID, while both were expected to be equivalent on the general measure of body dissatisfaction and to be superior to no intervention. One hundred and fifty-one young adults endorsing body image concerns were randomized to a 1-week SC (n = 50) or DB intervention (n = 50), or to a waitlist (WL) control group (n = 51). Compliance was high and there was no atttrition. Contrary to hypotheses regarding specific effects, both interventions had similar effects on all body image indices except thin-ideal internalization (which was only reduced in the DB group). Both interventions were superior to no treatment on appearance-contingent self-worth, body appreciation, and body dissatisfaction; however, only the DB group was superior to no treatment on thin-ideal internalization. Somewhat surprisingly, both intervention groups showed significant increases in self-compassion from pre to post intervention. Also, within both interventions, improvement in self-compassion was significantly correlated with improvement in body image, suggesting that self-compassion may serve as a mechanism of change in both interventions. The rationale for the SC intervention was preferred, although compliance and the degree to which participants perceived the interventions to be helpful in improving body image did not differ between the groups. Results suggest that self-compassion and dissonance-based approaches are both helpful in addressing BID and it may be possible to integrate aspects of both interventions to improve acceptability and provide the greatest benefits.

Table of Contents

Introduction...............................................................................................1

Method.....................................................................................................14

Results......................................................................................................22

Discussion................................................................................................32

References................................................................................................46

Table 1......................................................................................................55

Table 2......................................................................................................56

Table 3......................................................................................................57

Table 4......................................................................................................58

Table 5......................................................................................................59

Table 6......................................................................................................60

Table 7......................................................................................................61

Figure 1.....................................................................................................62

Figure 2.....................................................................................................63

About this Dissertation

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School	Laney Graduate School
Department	Psychology
Subfield / Discipline	Clinical Psychology
Degree	Ph.D.
Submission	Dissertation
Language	English
Research Field	Psychology, Clinical
Keyword	thin-ideal internalization appearance comparison dissonance mindfulness body dissatisfaction body image self-compassion body appreciation body acceptance
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Craighead, Linda W. , Emory University
Committee Members	Westen, Drew, Emory University Craighead, W. Edward, Emory University Jones Davis, Erin M. , Emory University Nygaard, Lynne C. , Emory University

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