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Swami V, Voracek M, Todd J, Furnham A, Horne G, Tran US. Positive self-beliefs mediate the association between body appreciation and positive mental health. Body Image 2024; 48:101685. [PMID: 38382233 DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2024.101685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Previous work has supported direct, positive associations between body appreciation and positive mental health, but has largely neglected to examine possible indirect mechanistic pathways. Here, we propose one relevant mediational pathway, wherein body appreciation is associated with positive mental health via positive self-beliefs (i.e., cognitions that lead individuals to view themselves, their lives, and/or their futures under a positive outlook). To test this hypothesis, we asked an online sample of 496 adults (249 women, 247 men) from the United Kingdom to complete measures of body appreciation, positive self-beliefs, and positive mental health. Participants also completed measures of self-efficacy and resilience, and provided their demographic information. Correlational analysis revealed significant, positive, and strong associations between body appreciation and facets of positive self-beliefs and positive mental health, respectively. Structural equation modelling showed that positive self-beliefs mediated the association between body appreciation and positive mental health after controlling for self-efficacy and resilience. This model was robust across women and men separately, and the mediational effects remained intact in sensitivity and robustness analyses. We discuss ways in which greater body appreciation may help individuals develop and maintain positive self-beliefs, which in turn shape mental health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viren Swami
- School of Psychology, Sport, and Sensory Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Centre for Psychological Medicine, Perdana University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Martin Voracek
- Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jennifer Todd
- School of Psychology, Sport, and Sensory Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Centre for Psychological Medicine, Perdana University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Adrian Furnham
- Department of Leadership and Organizational Behaviour, Norwegian Business School, Oslo, Norway
| | - George Horne
- School of Sport, Exercise, and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom
| | - Ulrich S Tran
- Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Freeman D, Freeman J, Rovira A, Miguel AL, Ward R, Bousfield M, Riffiod L, Leal J, Kabir T, Yu LM, Beckwith H, Waite F, Rosebrock L. Randomised controlled trial of automated VR therapy to improve positive self-beliefs and psychological well-being in young people diagnosed with psychosis: a study protocol for the Phoenix VR self-confidence therapy trial. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e076559. [PMID: 38149422 PMCID: PMC10711910 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-076559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The confidence of young people diagnosed with psychosis is often low. Positive self-beliefs may be few and negative self-beliefs many. A sense of defeat and failure is common. Young people often withdraw from many aspects of everyday life. Psychological well-being is lowered. Psychological techniques can improve self-confidence, but a shortage of therapists means that very few patients ever receive such help. Virtual reality (VR) offers a potential route out of this impasse. By including a virtual coach, treatment can be automated. As such, delivery of effective therapy is no longer reliant on the availability of therapists. With young people with lived experience, we have developed a staff-assisted automated VR therapy to improve positive self-beliefs (Phoenix). The treatment is based on established cognitive behavioural therapy and positive psychology techniques. A case series indicates that this approach may lead to large improvements in positive self-beliefs and psychological well-being. We now aim to conduct the first randomised controlled evaluation of Phoenix VR. METHODS AND ANALYSIS 80 patients with psychosis, aged between 16 and 30 years old and with low levels of positive self-beliefs, will be recruited from National Health Service (NHS) secondary care services. They will be randomised (1:1) to the Phoenix VR self-confidence therapy added to treatment as usual or treatment as usual. Assessments will be conducted at 0, 6 (post-treatment) and 12 weeks by a researcher blind to allocation. The primary outcome is positive self-beliefs at 6 weeks rated with the Oxford Positive Self Scale. The secondary outcomes are psychiatric symptoms, activity levels and quality of life. All main analyses will be intention to treat. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The trial has received ethical approval from the NHS Health Research Authority (22/LO/0273). A key output will be a high-quality VR treatment for patients to improve self-confidence and psychological well-being. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ISRCTN10250113.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Freeman
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Jason Freeman
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Aitor Rovira
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Rupert Ward
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Matthew Bousfield
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Ludovic Riffiod
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jose Leal
- Health Economics Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Population Health, Oxford, UK
| | - Thomas Kabir
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Ly-Mee Yu
- Oxford Primary Care Clinical Trials Unit, Nuffield Department of Primary care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Helen Beckwith
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Felicity Waite
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Laina Rosebrock
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
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