A preliminary controlled comparison of programs designed to reduce risk of eating disorders targeting perfectionism and media literacy

Abstract

Objective: The primary objective was to compare the efficacy of two eight-lesson programs, targeting perfectionism and media literacy compared to control classes in reducing eating disorder risk.

Method: Students from six classes (N = 127, mean age 15.0 years, SD 0.4) and two schools participated. Linear mixed-model analyses were conducted by group (3: perfectionism, media literacy, control), time (2: postprogram, 3-month follow-up) and eating disorder risk status (2: high, low), with baseline observations included as a covariate.

Results: An interaction effect favoring the perfectionism program at 3-month follow-up was found for concern over mistakes (effect size 0.45). A main effect for group, also favoring the perfectionism program, was found for personal standards (effect size 0.44). High-risk participants (i.e., those with high levels of shape and weight concern at baseline) benefited most from the perfectionism program with reliable change indices indicating favorable rates of improvement beyond chance on all of the variables, whereas the media literacy and control participants experienced a comparable rate of change during the course of the study.

Conclusions: Targeting perfectionism represents a promising prevention option that requires further investigation in children of mid-adolescence age, and further investigation is required to determine the demographic most likely to benefit from media literacy.