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. 2019 Feb;52(2):206-210.
doi: 10.1002/eat.23011. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

Reducing anticipated non-suicidal self-injury by improving body esteem in individuals with weight suppression: A proof of concept study

Grace A Kennedy  1 , Katherine Jean Forney  1 , Dennis Pinner  1 , Kimberly M Martinez  1 , Jennifer M Buchman-Schmitt  1 , Pamela K Keel  1
Affiliations

Reducing anticipated non-suicidal self-injury by improving body esteem in individuals with weight suppression: A proof of concept study

Grace A Kennedy et al. Int J Eat Disord. 2019 Feb.

Abstract

Objective: Research suggests that weight suppression (WS) is linked to non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and that drive for thinness and depression may explain this association. We conducted a proof-of-concept study using a randomized control trial design to determine if improving body esteem and reducing depressive symptoms reduced NSSI in individuals with WS.

Method: Weight suppressed participants (N = 60) who engaged in NSSI were recruited from the community and randomly assigned to an on-line intervention or control condition. The on-line intervention was adapted from a cognitive-dissonance intervention originally designed to reduce thin-ideal internalization in females to an intervention to reduce internalization of unhealthy body ideals in both genders. Participants' weight/shape concerns, depressive symptoms, and NSSI were assessed at pre- and post-intervention, or at baseline and 2-week follow-up for controls.

Results: Compared to controls, participants in the treatment condition reported greater decreases in likelihood of future NSSI [Cohen's d (95% CI) = -0.38 (-0.90-0.15)], weight/shape concerns [-1.19 (-1.75 to -0.62)], depressive symptoms [-1.00 (-1.56 to -0.45)], and significant improvements in appearance [1.27 (0.70-1.84)] and weight esteem [1.38 (0.80-1.96)].

Discussion: Future work could test this intervention in a larger trial with an active alternative treatment condition.

Keywords: (MeSH terms) nonsuicidal self-injurious behavior; body image; cognitive dissonance; depression; proof of concept study; weight suppression.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
CONSORT chart detailing participant flow through the study
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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