Dissonance-based prevention of eating pathology in non-Western cultures: A randomized controlled trial of the Body Project among young Saudi adult women

Abstract

The aims of this study were to determine the effectiveness of an adapted version of the Body Project for young Saudi women, and to determine the impact of compliance (i.e. adherence to homework and attendance) on outcomes. A randomized controlled trial was used, allocating Saudi undergraduate females (N = 92; mean age = 20.48 years; SD = 2.28) to either a culturally-adapted version of the Body Project or a health education control condition. Participants completed self-report measures of eating pathology, body image, depression and social anxiety before and following the interventions and at three-month follow-up. Interaction terms showed that, relative to the control group, the intervention group had significantly reduced levels of eating concerns, body dissatisfaction and depression, but social anxiety did not change significantly in either group. Levels of session attendance and homework completion did not influence outcomes. Thus, the Body Project was effective for Saudi women in reducing eating pathology, body image dissatisfaction, and depression, though not social anxiety. This outcome indicates the value of the Body Project as a prevention tool when adapted to non-Western cultures.