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A Meaning-Centered Intervention for Undergraduate Women With High Weight and Shape Concerns-Replication of a
Franziska Schutzeichel1, Marije Aan Het Rot1, Sanne F W van Doornik1,2
1Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands.
Objective:
Recent studies underscore the relevance of life meaning to the maintenance of eating disorders. A previously conducted randomized controlled trial tested a meaning-centered intervention for female university students with high weight and shape concerns. After a 6-week online intervention led by a trainer, participants in the intervention condition scored higher on life meaning and lower on eating disorder symptoms and general distress compared to a waitlist group.
Method:
Given that the original study took place during COVID-19, this study replicated the design to test the findings' robustness.
Results:
Compared to the waitlist condition (n = 68), participants in the intervention condition (n = 63) again scored higher on the presence of life meaning at post-assessment and follow-up. Participants in the intervention condition also showed moderately lower internalizing symptoms at both timepoints, whereas eating disorder symptoms were only reduced in those with relatively high baseline symptom severity.
Conclusions:
Thus, also without social distancing measures, the intervention increased life meaning and reduced eating disorder symptoms and comorbid internalizing symptoms in women with weight and shape concerns.
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