Replication of a Peer Support Program Designed to Prevent Disordered Eating: Is a Life Skills Approach Sufficient for all Middle School Students?

Abstract

The evaluation of a school-based peer support group previously shown to improve body esteem and global self-esteem and reduce dieting in young adolescent girls was replicated in the present study. A total of 282 girls in grades 7 and 8, 196 of whom were in the control group, completed self-report questionnaires immediately before and after the life skills intervention, and 3 months later. Contrary to the findings reported in the original study, participation in the 10-session peer support group did not lead to improvements in body esteem or eating attitudes and behaviors beyond what was experienced by the control group. Interestingly, participants of the current intervention group exhibited higher disordered eating scores at baseline than those participants in the original study. Implications for matching prevention curriculum with the developmental and symptom levels of students are discussed.