Expert Peer Facilitation of the EVERYbody Project

Western Washington University

Status: Terminated

Conditions: Body Image; Eating Disorder Symptom

Treatments: Behavioral: EVERYbody Project; Other: Video + Expressive Writing

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05030532

17-004_3

Details and patient eligibility

About

The third trial of the EVERYbody Project explored the efficacy of using expert peer leaders to deliver the two-session, inclusive, group body image intervention compared to a time-matched video and expressive writing group through three-month follow-up. Expert peer leaders were college students with lived and/or academic expertise who were screened for facilitation readiness through a two-day training.

Full description

The first two trials of the EVERYbody Project demonstrated that a gender-inclusive, diversity-focused, dissonance-based group body image intervention could improve eating disorder risk factors among college students, particularly when the two session program was delivered by individuals with expertise (faculty or staff with body image expertise). When peer interventionists were used (college students with body image interest who completed a two-day training before facilitating groups), the effects of the EVERYbody Project were diminished. Although peer facilitation is commonly used for delivering dissonance-based body image interventions, an open training peer facilitation model (where all students who are trained are eligible to deliver the intervention) may not be the most beneficial for leading inclusivity-focused body image groups.

The current trial of the EVERYbody Project (Trial 3) explores a novel strategy to implement this program using expert peer facilitators. College students with lived or academic expertise in both body image and diversity topics were recruited to complete a two-day training. The training included practice and feedback on the two session intervention content as well as training on inclusive facilitation. Following the training, peer leaders completed a facilitation readiness self-evaluation and were evaluated by trainers for facilitation expertise. Only students who passed the expertise threshold were invited to facilitate EVERYbody Project groups.

The expert peer facilitation of the EVERYbody Project was compared to a time-matched two session passive video and expressive writing intervention. College students within a university in the Pacific Northwest United States were invited to participate in the group intervention (universal intervention target, gender inclusive). Outcome assessment included a comparison of changes in eating disorder risk factors and symptoms across randomization conditions from pre-post intervention through three-month follow-up. Program satisfaction was assessed at post-intervention and program application was assessed post-intervention and at three-month follow-up.

Enrollment: 84 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Current college student enrolled at institution where research was taking place

Exclusion criteria

• None

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Factorial Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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84 participants in 2 patient groups

EVERYbody Project: Expert facilitator version

Experimental group

Description:

This gender inclusive, dissonance-based body image program was created from focus group feedback. Based on the Body Project, the program retains key dissonance activities while expanding the inclusivity focus (e.g., expanding the gender focus, exploring diversity within appearance ideals, critically discussing the impact of limited diversity representation in cultural appearance norms). Around 10% of content from the previous trial was modified to form the current intervention. Changes focused on enhancing diversity-focused content. College students with body image content interest completed two days (16 hours) of training on the program manual, group management, and conducting inclusive conversations. Post training, students self-assessed their facilitation readiness and were evaluated by two trainers on facilitation expertise. Peer leaders with sufficient expertise were invited to facilitate EVERYbody Project groups.

Treatment:

Behavioral: EVERYbody Project

Video + Expressive Writing group

Active Comparator group

Description:

Video + expressive writing groups were facilitated by a peer leader following a detailed script. This intervention was designed as an active but low-dissonance comparison condition. Participants viewed two separate documentary movies related to gender and/or appearance-related pressures (one during each session): (1) The Illusionists, and (2) The Mask You Live In. Participants engaged in a brief (10 minute) reflective writing exercise after each film. In order to keep dissonance low, participants were told that their reflections would not be shared with anyone and they were not turned in. Peer facilitators received brief (1 hour) training on the video group manual.

Treatment:

Other: Video + Expressive Writing