(PS7-56) The Body Project: Comparing the Effectiveness of an In-person and Virtually Delivered Intervention

The Body Project (BP) is a peer-led cognitive dissonance-based intervention focused on changing perceptions about body image through guided conversation and self-reflective exercises (Stice et al., 2013). Across many studies and varied populations, research has found that the BP reduces eating disorder symptoms and risk factors, with some effects lasting through a four-year follow-up period (Stice et al., 2020). Recent research observed larger effect sizes for virtual implementation of the BP than the typical effects observed in studies with in person BP groups (Stice et al., 2023). However, no study has directly compared the effectiveness of in person versus virtual BP groups. To address this gap, we manipulated the format of the intervention (virtual v. in person) to compare the effects directly. In line with findings from Stice and colleagues (2023), the authors hypothesized that participants in both groups would experience less body image concerns and reduced eating disorder symptoms after receiving the intervention, with the virtual group experiencing greater reductions in body image concerns and eating disorder symptoms than the in-person group.

Before and after the 4-week Body Project intervention, participants completed a series of self-report measures and the Eating Disorder Diagnostic Interview. We conducted a series of 2 (time) x 2 (format) mixed factorial ANOVAs to test if participants in the virtual group showed greater reduction in body image concerns. Results showed that participants in both conditions reported significantly lower scores in thin ideal internalization, dieting behavior frequency, negative affect, and levels of body comparison. Participants in both conditions also reported significantly higher scores in body satisfaction and body appreciation. Although there were no significant interactions between time and participant condition, effect sizes measured by Cohen’s d showed that virtual BP participation produced larger effect sizes (d  = .506 - 1.384) than in-person participation (d  = .263 - .860) for thin-ideal internalization, body dissatisfaction, dieting behavior frequency, negative affect, and body appreciation. The findings from this study suggest that both BP group formats are effective in reducing body image concerns, but larger effects are seen from the virtual implementation. An effective, virtual method of administering the BP would expand access to the intervention to those who might not be able to attend in person programs, increasing the intervention’s reach and benefits.