Publication Date

2026

Abstract

The present study examines data from 20 participants who were randomly assigned to a brief digital body image intervention and a waitlist control group. The program, Real Talk, incorporated elements from several evidence-based approaches, namely affirming one’s values, making cognitive reappraisals, building body functionality, and self-compassion. The main outcome measures were body appreciation, functionality appreciation, self-kindness, and self-judgment. We hypothesized that Real Talk participants would experience greater increases in positive body image constructs and self-kindness and lower levels of self-judgment as compared to the waitlist control group. Data were analysed using nonparametric analyses due to the small sample size. Mann-Whitney U results indicate that the experimental group showed significant improvements in body appreciation and functionality appreciation as compared to the control group, but results were inconclusive regarding changes in self-compassion (i.e., self-kindness and self-judgment). The Real Talk program shows promise regarding body image improvement as a brief digital intervention for non-clinical populations; however, additional testing is needed.

keywords: body appreciation, functionality appreciation, self-compassion, brief intervention, digital intervention

Disciplines

Psychology

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