“My body is amazing from the bottom to the top” - An RCT study testing two positive body image media micro-interventions for young children aged 4–6 years

Abstract

This study presents a fully powered RCT testing the effectiveness and acceptability of two positive body image online media-based micro-interventions designed for young children. A total of 439 children aged 4–6 years were randomised into one of four conditions: i) episode intervention, ii) episode control, iii) music video intervention, or iv) music video control. Children and their accompanying parent attended two data collection sessions, approximately a week apart. During session one, each child and accompanying parent watched their assigned media together on a tablet device. Children completed measures of body appreciation, functionality appreciation, and weight bias with a trained moderator in a play-based interview pre-intervention (T1), immediately post-intervention (T2) and approximately one-week later (T3) during session two. Accompanying parents completed brief acceptability questionnaires at both sessions. Results indicated that the music video intervention had a small protective effect over the matched control on body appreciation. No effects were found for the episode intervention. Children and their parent/guardian indicated that both interventions were equally acceptable to each other and when compared with their respective, matched active controls. Results showed some promise for the immediate protective impact of appearance inclusive children’s media that focuses on body appreciation and functionality appreciation.