Aim: Body image interventions can promote positive body image in cancer populations; however, in-person interventions pose accessibility barriers, and low adherence is common with intensive online interventions. Therefore, this study investigated whether positive body image could be enhanced, and cancer-related distress reduced, through a brief single-session online writing intervention, entitled Expand Your Horizon (EYH).
Methods: One hundred thirty participants were required for a sufficiently powered study. Female cancer survivors aged 18 and over were randomised to either EYH (where they described the functionality of their body), or active control (described activities of the day prior). Outcomes included appreciation of body functionality (primary outcome), body appreciation, body dissatisfaction and distress. Transient body image was assessed at baseline and immediately post-intervention; enduring body image was assessed at baseline and one-week follow-up.
Results: Both EYH (n = 24) and control (n = 24) experienced significant improvements in transient body image and distress from baseline to immediately post-intervention. However, no significant differences emerged between groups on appreciation of body functionality (EYH = 72.81(23.35); 95% CI = 62.41-83.22; control = 64.71(25.31); 95% CI = 54.30-75.11; p = .61), body appreciation (EYH = 59.83(30.05); 95% CI = 48.26-71.41; control = 52.71(26.15); 95% CI = 41.14-64.28; p = .10), body dissatisfaction (EYH = 47.61(29.03); 95% CI = 35.91-59.31; control = 54.71(27.90); 95% CI = 43.01-66.41; p = .42), or distress (EYH = 2.42(3.09); 95% CI = 1.28-3.55; control = 1.92(2.38); 95% CI = .78- .31; p = 1.00). Similarly, at 1-week follow-up, no significant differences emerged between groups on any outcome measure.
Conclusion: While both writing conditions lead to improvements in transient body image and distress, this study failed to provide evidence for the efficacy of Expand Your Horizon over the control in female cancer survivors. Reasons for this and directions for future research will be discussed.