Psychoeducation improves emotion regulation, body image and eating patterns in school-aged adolescents

Adolescents face a critical developmental stage marked by physical, psychological, and social changes, and may show increased vulnerability to difficulties in body comfort, self-perception, and eating behaviours, particularly under the influence of sociocultural appearance ideals. This study evaluated the effects of a structured psychoeducational intervention on 65 second-year secondary school students. Assessments targeted binge-eating behaviours, orthorexia nervosa, body image, body compassion, and alexithymia, with pre- (T0) and post-intervention (T1) comparisons. Post-intervention, Orthorexia Nervosa (TOS) scores, Body Uneasiness Test (BUT) Avoidance and Depersonalization significantly decreased by 14.8%, 34.5%, and 33.3% (all p ≤ 0.0045), respectively. Body Compassion Scale (BCS) total and Defusion scores increased by 6.36% and 6.35% (all p ≤ 0.0428), indicating enhanced self-compassion. Binge Eating Scale (BES) scores showed a downward trend (p = 0.0508). Overweight/obese adolescents had higher baseline Externally-Oriented Thinking and retained elevated BES, TOS, and BUT scores post-intervention. Underweight participants showed higher BCS scores. Finally, females exhibited higher baseline binge-eating severity, alexithymia, and body image disturbance, whereas males showed larger reductions in Weight Phobia and Avoidance after intervention. Psychoeducational interventions may reduce orthorexic tendencies, improve body-related emotional processing and body compassion in adolescents. These preliminary findings support the potential development of psychoeducational strategies within school settings.