Pilot test of a brief single-session body functionality appreciation audio meditation: Efficacy of focused and...

The goal of this investigation was to conduct a pilot study to examine whether a brief audio meditation designed to improve appreciation of body functionality could improve body image and mood, and whether multitasking would alter its effectiveness. College-aged women were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: focused audio meditation, multitasking audio meditation, or a control group. Measures of body satisfaction, body appearance appreciation, body functionality appreciation, appearance schemas, and positive and negative affect were collected pre-intervention and post-intervention. Results indicated that, compared to the control group, both the focused and multitasking groups showed improvements in body satisfaction and functionality appreciation. In addition, the focused group showed improvements in appearance appreciation and positive affect compared to the control group. These results suggest that brief audio recordings or meditations focused on body functionality may enhance body image and mood among women, and that the effects may be stronger when listening without multitasking.