Does a Facebook-enhanced Mindful Self-Compassion intervention improve body image? An evaluation study.

Abstract

This study evaluates a brief intervention aimed at improving body image. The intervention comprised a Mindful Self-Compassion workshop complemented by a group discussion on Facebook. Young women (Mage = 18.31), screened for body concerns, were allocated by university campus to a 50-minute workshop intervention (n = 42) or a waitlist control (n = 34). Following the workshop, participants in the intervention group utilized self-compassion techniques when experiencing appearance distress and posted about their experiences on a private Facebook group three times per week for two weeks. Findings showed that, relative to control, the intervention group experienced lower upward appearance comparison, social appearance anxiety, body dissatisfaction, and drive for thinness, and higher body appreciation and self-compassion, at posttest and 1-month follow-up. All effects, except those for body dissatisfaction, were held at 3-month follow-up. Additionally, common humanity predicted gains in body appreciation from pretest to posttest. The Mindful Self-Compassion intervention involving a Facebook group may have resonated with young women as it allowed them to share moments of self-compassionate body image experiences in a private and supportive environment.