Outcomes of a cluster randomized controlled trial of the SoMe Social Media Literacy Program for Improving Body Image-Related Outcomes in Adolescent Boys and Girls
Journal article
Gordon, Chloe S., Jarman, Hannah K., Rodgers, Rachel F., Mclean, Siân A., Slater, Amy, Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, Matthew and Paxton, Susan J.. (2021). Outcomes of a cluster randomized controlled trial of the SoMe Social Media Literacy Program for Improving Body Image-Related Outcomes in Adolescent Boys and Girls. Nutrients. 13(11), p. Article 3825. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13113825
Authors | Gordon, Chloe S., Jarman, Hannah K., Rodgers, Rachel F., Mclean, Siân A., Slater, Amy, Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, Matthew and Paxton, Susan J. |
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Abstract | Although the negative effect of social media use among youth on body image and eating concerns has been established, few classroom-based resources that can decrease these effects through targeting social media literacy skills have been developed. This study aimed to test the efficacy of SoMe, a social media literacy body image, dieting, and wellbeing program for adolescents, through a cluster randomized controlled trial. Participants (n = 892; Mage = 12.77, SD = 0.74; range 11–15; 49.5% male) were randomized by school (n = 8) to receive either weekly SoMe (n = 483) or control sessions (lessons as usual; n = 409) over 4 weeks in their classroom. Participants completed surveys at four timepoints (baseline, 1-week post-intervention, and 6- and 12-month follow-up) assessing body dissatisfaction, dietary restraint, strategies to increase muscles (primary outcomes), self-esteem and depressive symptoms (secondary outcomes), and internalization of appearance ideals and appearance comparison (exploratory outcomes). Modest positive intervention effects were found in dietary restraint and depressive symptoms at 6-month follow-up in girls but few positive effects emerged for boys. The findings provide only preliminary support for a social media literacy intervention, but suggest the usefulness of both identifying those who benefit most from a universally delivered intervention and the need to refine the intervention to maximize intervention effects. |
Keywords | body image; dietary restraint; wellbeing; social media; RCT; adolescents; eating disorders; school-based prevention |
Year | 2021 |
Journal | Nutrients |
Journal citation | 13 (11), p. Article 3825 |
Publisher | Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI AG) |
ISSN | 2072-6643 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13113825 |
PubMed ID | 34836084 |
Scopus EID | 2-s2.0-85117941002 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC8674763 |
Open access | Published as ‘gold’ (paid) open access |
Research or scholarly | Research |
Page range | 1-17 |
Funder | Australian Research Council (ARC) |
Publisher's version | License File Access Level Open |
Output status | Published |
Publication dates | |
Online | 27 Oct 2021 |
Publication process dates | |
Accepted | 22 Oct 2021 |
Deposited | 24 May 2022 |
ARC Funded Research | This output has been funded, wholly or partially, under the Australian Research Council Act 2001 |
Grant ID | ARC/DP170100709 |
https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8xx1x/outcomes-of-a-cluster-randomized-controlled-trial-of-the-some-social-media-literacy-program-for-improving-body-image-related-outcomes-in-adolescent-boys-and-girls
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Publisher's version
OA_Gordon_2021_Outcomes_of_a_cluster_randomized_controlled.pdf | |
License: CC BY 4.0 | |
File access level: Open |
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