A Meaning-Centered Intervention Concerning Meaning in Life and Eating Disorder Symptoms and its Influence on Meaning in Life, Self-Esteem and Heightened Concerns about Weight and Shape for Undergraduate Women.

Labee, Carmen (2024) A Meaning-Centered Intervention Concerning Meaning in Life and Eating Disorder Symptoms and its Influence on Meaning in Life, Self-Esteem and Heightened Concerns about Weight and Shape for Undergraduate Women. Master thesis, Psychology.

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Abstract

Low meaning in life (MIL) can be a contributing factor in development and maintenance of eating disorders. A study by Van Doornik et al. (2023) found that a meaning-centered intervention for eating disorders (MCI-ED) increased MIL and reduced weight and shape concerns for women. However, COVID lockdown restrictions may have influenced their outcomes. The current randomized controlled trial replicates the study by Van Doornik et al. (2023) to see whether the MCI-ED increases MIL and self-esteem and reduces weight and shape concerns for women. For this study 104 undergraduate female psychology students (mean age = 19) with weight and shape concerns were randomly assigned to a waitlist condition (n=58) or an experimental condition, the MCI-ED (n=46). The MCI-ED consists of 6 weekly online sessions of one hour guided by a personal therapist. Before the MCI-ED, baseline measures on MIL, weight and shape concerns and self-esteem were taken. Post-assessment was done after a waiting period of seven weeks or after finishing the MCI-ED. Results indicated higher MIL and self-esteem for participants on the MCI-ED in comparison to participants in the waitlist condition. Furthermore, a reduction in weight and shape concerns was found for participants on the MCI-ED compared to participants in the waitlist condition. These results imply that the MCI-ED is effective in increasing MIL. Furthermore, since the MCI-ED decreased weight and shape concerns, outcomes indicate that adding a component of MIL in treatment of eating disorders might be beneficial.

Item Type:	Thesis (Master)
Supervisor name:	Frey, M.I. and Schutzeichel, F.
Degree programme:	Psychology
Differentiation route:	Clinical Psychology (CP) [Master Psychology]
Date Deposited:	06 Aug 2024 07:09
Last Modified:	06 Aug 2024 07:09
URI:	http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/4229

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