What evidence is there behind The Succeed Body Image Programme?
Evidence
The Succeed Body Image Programme is a cognitive dissonance-based intervention.
Dissonance theory suggests that if individuals act in ways that contradict their beliefs then they will typically change their beliefs to align with these actions. The Succeed Body Image Programme therefore, actively engages its participants in a series of verbal, written and behavioural exercises that critique the unrealistic, ultra-thin-ideal standard of female beauty.
The Succeed Body Image Programme is based on over 11 years of scientific research that consistently demonstrates the effectiveness of cognitive dissonance-based programmes in reducing eating disorder risk factors, of which negative body image is one.
The counter-attitudinal activities in the programme have been shown to result in decreased internalisation of the thin-ideal and subsequent reductions in body dissatisfaction, negative emotions, dieting, and eating disorder symptoms.
Studies have shown that the positive impact of dissonance-based programmes on body dissatisfaction, negative emotions and psychosocial impairment can last up to at least 3 years. Furthermore, extensive research by Dr Carolyn Becker has demonstrated that cognitive dissonance based programmes can be effectively delivered by rigorously trained undergraduate and postgraduate University students, school counsellors and nurses. Those delivering the programme also appear to benefit from doing so with regard to showing further reductions in risk factors.
For a summary of the evidence for dissonance-based eating disorder prevention prior to 2008, please refer to the article: 'Stice, Shaw, Becker, & Rhode (2008)'.
For further information on the efficacy and effectiveness of dissonance-based prevention programmes, please refer to the following publications:
- Becker, C. B. & Stice, E. (2012). Reflections: Body Image Program -Facilitator Guide. New York: Oxford University Press.
- Becker, C. B. & Stice, E. (2012). Reflections: Body Image Program -Workbook. New York: Oxford University Press.
- Marchand, E., Stice, E., Rohde, P., Becker, C. B. (2011). Moving from efficacy to effectiveness trials in prevention research. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 49, 32-41.
- Becker, C. B., Wilson, C., Williams, A., Kelly, M., McDaniel, L., & Elmquist, J. (2010). Peer-facilitated cognitive dissonance versus healthy weight eating disorders prevention: A randomized comparison. Body Image, 7, 280-288.
- Perez, M., Becker, C. B., Ramirez-Cash, A. (2010). Transportability of an empirically supported dissonance-based prevention program for eating disorders. Body Image, 7, 179-186.
- Becker, C. B., Stice, E., Shaw, H., & Woda, S. (2009). Use of empirically-supported interventions for psychopathology: Can the participatory approach move us beyond the research-to-practice gap? Behaviour Research and Therapy, 47, 265-274.
- Becker, C. B., Bull, S., Schaumberg, K., Cauble, A., & Franco, A. (2008). Effects of peer-facilitated eating disorders prevention: A replication trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 76, 347–353.
- Becker, C. B., Bull, S., Smith, L. M., & Ciao, A. C. (2008). Effects of being a peer-facilitator in an eating disorders prevention program: Can we further reduce eating disorder risk factors? Eating Disorders: Journal of Treatment and Prevention, 16, 444-459.
- Becker, C. B. & Stice, E. (2008) Sorority Body Image Program: Group Leader Guide. New York: Oxford University Press.
- Becker, C. B. & Stice, E. (2008). Sorority Body Image Program: Workbook. New York: Oxford University Press.
- Becker, C. B., Smith, L. M., & Ciao, A. C. (2006). Peer-facilitated eating disorder prevention: A randomized effectiveness trial of cognitive dissonance and media advocacy. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 53, 550–555.
- Becker, C. B., Smith, L. M., & Ciao, A. C. (2005). Reducing eating disorder risk factors in sorority members: A randomized trial. Behavior Therapy, 36, 245–253.
- Becker, C. B., McDaniel, L., Bull, S., Powell, M., & McIntyre, K. (in press). Can we reduce eating disorder risk factors in female college athletes? A randomized exploratory investigation of two peer-led interventions. Body Image.
- McMillan, W., Stice, E., & Rohde, P. (in press). High- and low-level dissonance-based eating disorder prevention programs with young women with body image concerns: An experimental trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.
- Luethcke, C., McDaniel, L., & Becker, C. B. (2011). A Comparison of Mindfulness, Nonjudgmental, and Cognitive Dissonance-Based Approaches to Mirror Exposure. Body Image, 8, 251-258.
- Seidel, A., Presnell, K., & Rosenfield, D. (2009). Mediators in the dissonance eating disorder prevention program. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 47, 645–653.
- Stice, E., Rohde, P, Gau, J., & Shaw, H. (2009). An effectiveness trial of a dissonance-based eating disorder prevention program for high-risk adolescent girls. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 77, 825–834.
- Rodriguez, R., Marchand, E., Ng, J., & Stice, E. (2008). Effects of a cognitive-dissonance-based eating disorder prevention program are similar for Asian American, Hispanic, and White participants. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 41, 618–625.
- Stice, E., Shaw, H., Becker, C. B., & Rohde, P. (2008) Dissonance-based interventions for the prevention of eating disorders: Using persuasion principles to promote health. Prevention Science, 9(2), 114-128.
- Stice, E., Marti, N., Spoor, S., Presnell, K., & Shaw, H. (2008). Dissonance and healthy weight eating disorder prevention programs: Long-term effects from a randomized efficacy trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 76, 329–340.
- Mitchell, K. S., Mazzeo, S. E., Rausch, S. M., & Cooke, K. L. (2007). Innovative interventions for disordered eating: Evaluating dissonance-based and yoga interventions. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 40, 120-128.
- Stice, E., & Presnell, K. (2007). The body project: Promoting body acceptance and preventing eating disorders: Facilitator guide. New York: Oxford University Press.
- Stice, E., Presnell, K., Gau, J., & Shaw, H. (2007). Testing mediators of intervention effects in randomized controlled trials: An evaluation of two eating disorder prevention programs. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 75, 20–32.
- Roehrig, M., Thompson, J. K., Brannick, M., & van den Berg, P. (2006). Dissonance-based eating disorder prevention program: A preliminary dismantling investigation. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 39, 1–10.
- Stice, E., Shaw, H., Burton, E., & Wade, E. (2006). Dissonance and healthy weight eating disorders prevention programs: A randomized efficacy trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74(2), 263–275.
- Green, M., Scott, N., Diyankova, I., Gasser, C., & Pederson, E. (2005). Eating disorder prevention: An experimental comparison of high level dissonance, low level dissonance, and no-treatment control. Eating Disorders, 13, 157–169.
- Matusek, J. A., Wendt, S. J., & Wiseman, C. V. (2004). Dissonance thin-ideal and didactic healthy behavior eating disorders prevention programs: Results from a controlled trial. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 36, 376-388.
- Stice, E., Trost, A., & Chase, A. (2003). Healthy weight control and dissonance-based eating disorder prevention programs: Results from a controlled trial. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 33(1), 10–21.
- Stice, E., Chase, A., Stormer, S., & Appel, A. (2001). A randomized trial of a dissonance-based eating disorder prevention program. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 29(3), 247–262.
