Shifting the Focus: A Pilot Study on the Effects of Positive Body Exposure on Body Satisfaction, Body Attitude, Eating Pathology and Depressive Symptoms in Female Patients with Eating Disorders

Marlies E. Rekkers (), Lisanne Aardenburg, Mia Scheffers, Annemarie A. van Elburg and Jooske T. van Busschbach
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Marlies E. Rekkers: Faculty of Social Sciences, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands
Lisanne Aardenburg: GGZ inGeest, Mental Health Institute, Laan van de Helende Meesters 433, 1186 DL Amstelveen, The Netherlands
Mia Scheffers: Department of Human Movement and Education, Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, Campus 2-6, 8017 CA Zwolle, The Netherlands
Annemarie A. van Elburg: Faculty of Social Sciences, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands
Jooske T. van Busschbach: Department of Human Movement and Education, Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, Campus 2-6, 8017 CA Zwolle, The Netherlands

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 18, 1-15

Abstract: One of the most commonly used techniques for the treatment of body image problems in eating disorders (ED) is body exposure (BE). However, evidence of its effectiveness in clinical populations is scarce. In the Positive Body Experience (PBE) protocol, the focus of positive BE is on aesthetic, functional and tactile aspects of the body. The current study evaluates the outcomes of positive BE with regard to changes in attitudinal body image and eating pathology, as well as the factors that influence these changes, in a sample of 84 adult female patients with different EDs who did not receive any other treatment for their EDs during the period in which BE treatment occurred. The results show significant positive changes in attitudinal body image, ED behaviors and depressive symptoms, with depressive symptoms at baseline mediating the changes in attitudinal body image. This study indicates that the PBE protocol is a suitable intervention for reducing negative attitudinal body image in anorexia and bulimia nervosa patients, as well as those with binge eating disorder. Furthermore, the results suggest that positive non-weight-related and functional body satisfaction are strong catalysts for change and that depressive symptoms play an important role in the ability to change. Additional RCTs are needed to gain more insight into the effects of PBE.

Keywords: eating disorders; attitudinal body image; body satisfaction; body attitude; body exposure; mirror exposure; depressive symptoms (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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