A brief online writing intervention improves positive body image in adults living with dermatological conditions

Adkins, Kate V., Overton, Paul G. and Thompson, Andrew R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6788-7222 2022. A brief online writing intervention improves positive body image in adults living with dermatological conditions. Frontiers in Medicine 9 , 1064012. 10.3389/fmed.2022.1064012

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Abstract

Introduction: Dermatological conditions can affect how individuals feel about their bodies. This research therefore seeks to evaluate the potential for a brief writing intervention, focused on body functionality, to improve body image in adults living with a range of dermatological conditions. Methods: As part of a parallel Randomised Controlled Trial, 451 adults living with a dermatological condition were randomized to either three functionality-based writing tasks or three creative writing tasks (control). Of these, 155 participants completed pre- and post-intervention measures of body appreciation, functionality appreciation, appearance anxiety, skin-related shame, and skin-related quality-of-life. Results: For participants with relatively low or mid-range scores on baseline body appreciation and functionality appreciation, there were medium-to-large positive effects of the intervention. Effects were smaller, with all but-one remaining significant, at 1-month follow up and in intention-to-treat analyses. No between-group effects of the intervention were found for measures of appearance anxiety, skin-related shame, and skin-related quality-of-life. Discussion: These findings suggest that a 1-week writing intervention has the potential to improve positive aspects of body image, but not appearance- and skin-related distress in adults living with a dermatological condition. Clinical trial registration: [https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/history/NCT044459 74?V_3=View], identifier [NCT04445974].

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	Published
Schools:	Psychology
Additional Information:	License information from Publisher: LICENSE 1: URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Publisher:	Frontiers Media
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	6 January 2023
Date of Acceptance:	30 November 2022
Last Modified:	11 Oct 2023 17:28
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/155474

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