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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 28, 2025

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design
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A personalized approach-avoidance modification intervention to reduce negative body image. A placebo-controlled pilot

Klaske A Glashouwer1, Joost Timmerman2, Peter J de Jong3

  • 1Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, University of Groningen, the Netherlands; Department of Eating Disorders, Accare Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Groningen, the Netherlands.

Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry
|February 23, 2020
PubMed
Summary

This study investigated if training approach-avoidance tendencies could improve body satisfaction. The results showed no significant improvement in body satisfaction or drive for thinness after the training intervention.

Keywords:
ApproachApproach-avoidance taskAvoidanceCognitive bias modificationDrive for thinnessNegative body image

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Body Image Research

Background:

  • Drive for thinness is a key factor in negative body image.
  • It can be viewed as a tendency to approach thin bodies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To test if training thinness-related approach-avoidance tendencies improves body satisfaction.
  • Utilized personalized training with participants' own body images.

Main Methods:

  • 104 undergraduate women high in drive for thinness were randomized.
  • Experimental group trained to push away thin body images and pull realistic images closer.
  • Placebo group saw stimuli with 50/50 contingency.

Main Results:

  • No significant effect on body satisfaction or drive for thinness observed.
  • Marginally significant change in approach-avoidance tendencies noted, but potentially due to pre-existing tendencies.
  • High error rates limited interpretation of approach-avoidance effects.

Conclusions:

  • The study did not find evidence that training approach-avoidance tendencies effectively improves negative body image.
  • Further research may be needed to explore alternative interventions.