Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2026
Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling
Published on: January 17, 2025
Development and pilot evaluation of a culturally adapted CBT-based group intervention for body image dissatisfaction
Lian Gu1, Shijie Xu1, Yimin Zhang2
1Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 600 Wanping South Road, Shanghai, China.
Background:
This study developed and pilot-tested a culturally adapted, 8-week cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-based group intervention targeting body image dissatisfaction among at-risk Chinese college students. The study evaluated its feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness in a randomized controlled design.
Methods:
Seventeen female participants were randomized to an intervention group (n = 8) or a wait-list control group (n = 9). The intervention consisted of eight weekly sessions integrating CBT principles with culturally relevant content emphasizing mindful acceptance, emotion regulation, and body appreciation. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed by recruitment, retention, attendance, homework completion, and participant feedback. Secondary outcomes included body dissatisfaction (Body Shape Questionnaire, BSQ), body appreciation (Body Appreciation Scale-2, BAS-2), thin-ideal internalization (Ideal-Body Stereotype Scale-Revised, IBSS-R), eating disorder symptoms (Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire 6.0, EDE-Q 6.0), depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9, PHQ-9), and anxiety symptoms (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, GAD-7), measured at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up.
Results:
The intervention demonstrated strong feasibility and acceptability, with 100% retention, high attendance, and positive participant feedback. Compared with controls, the intervention group showed significant improvements from baseline to post-intervention in body dissatisfaction, body appreciation, thin-ideal internalization, eating disorder symptoms, depression, and anxiety (ps < 0.05, rs = 0.39-0.63), with most effects maintained at the 3-month follow-up. No significant changes were observed in the wait-list control group.
Conclusions:
Findings provide preliminary evidence for the feasibility, acceptability, and potential effectiveness of a culturally adapted CBT-based group intervention addressing body image dissatisfaction among at-risk Chinese college women. Despite the small sample and modest recruitment, this pilot study highlights practical challenges associated with delivering psychological interventions in non-clinical university populations. The results offer an initial foundation for larger trials and for developing shorter or course-based formats to enhance accessibility and scalability in university settings.
