Alleviating the Harm: A Media Literacy Intervention for Body Dissatisfaction Using Ecological Momentary Intervention
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2020
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University of Hawaii at Manoa
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Objective: Body dissatisfaction rates continue to remain high and the consequences remain dire, especially among young women. One sociocultural factor found to contribute to body dissatisfaction is media use. Traditional media literacy interventions have found some success in decreasing body image-related constructs, though are limited in their reach and are often quickly outdated. This study developed and examined a media literacy intervention delivered via a smartphone app designed to help college women disrupt connection between media use and body dissatisfaction and negative affect. Method: Participants included 94 University of Hawai‘i students, randomly assigned to the intervention group, the app-based control group, or the traditional control group. Participants using the app received 5 prompts per day for 15 days. The app-based control group self-monitored while the intervention group both self-monitored and received prompts providing psychoeducation and activities designed to increase media literacy. Assessment measures were collected at baseline and again 15 days later. Results: The intervention produced significant improvements in the intervention group compared to the control group on measures of fatigue. There were also overall reductions over time in general negative affect, fear, sadness, guilt, hostility, shyness, general positive affect, joviality, self-assurance, attentiveness, serenity and critical thinking about media messages that were not specific to condition. Feedback questions gathered at follow-up from the intervention group showed that participants rated the intervention as acceptable. Additionally, participants endorsed learning more about the link between the media ideals and body image. Discussion: This study provides evidence in support of the feasibility of delivering a media literacy intervention via a smartphone application. Participation in the study found significant decreases in types of affect, such as general negative affect, general positive affect, and sadness from baseline to post-intervention. However, there may be potential for greater change. Study limitations such as power and challenges with the smartphone application are discussed. Future directions related to the creation of digital interventions are discussed. Overall, participants rated the intervention as acceptable, opening the door for future research in which the intervention and its delivery system are improved, and its efficacy is reexamined.
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Body image in women, Media literacy
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