Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 19, 2025

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design
Published on: May 31, 2021
Outcomes of a cluster randomised control trial of Be Real's BodyKind; A universal body image programme for
Ciara Mahon1, Denise Hamburger2, Zali Yager3
1School of Psychology, University College Dublin, Ireland.
Abstract:
Body image has a key impact on adolescent mental health. Yet there are few evidence-based interventions for older adolescents (aged 14 + years). This study evaluated the effectiveness of Be Real's BodyKind, a strengths-focused, gender-inclusive programme, culturally adapted for older adolescents in Ireland, which combines empirically-supported principles of cognitive dissonance, self-compassion, compassion for others, and social activism to support positive body image. Twenty-three second-level schools in Ireland participated in a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial. Overall, 1099 students (612 girls, 460 boys, 27 gender minority students) in Transition (4th) Year aged 15-16 years (M=15.4, SD=.5) were randomly assigned to receive the 4-session intervention delivered by teachers (n = 630) or waitlist control (n = 469). Outcomes were assessed at baseline, post-intervention and 2-month follow-up. Significant improvements in the main outcome of body appreciation (p = .03, d=.17) were observed at post-intervention. Girls demonstrated higher levels of body appreciation at post-intervention, and self-compassion at follow-up, but not boys. No significant changes in body satisfaction, psychological wellbeing, body ideal internalisation, compassion for others or social activism were observed. Findings indicate that girls may experience brief gains in body appreciation, but refining the programme and optimising implementation may be warranted to enhance programme impact, particularly in boys.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Regression Toward the Mean
Community Based Intervention
Foundations of Community Mental Health Programs
Central to the success of community-based interventions is the...
Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast,...
Sources of Self-Esteem I: Family Experience
Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Models of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention II
The agent-host-environment model states that disease results...

