Dr. RICCARDO DALLE GRAVE

ABSTRACT

This study evaluated the efficacy of the Digital Bodies program, originally developed in England, which aims to improve body satisfaction and reduce the internalization of appearance ideals and self-objectification among adolescents. A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted in Italian secondary schools (N = 435; mean age = 14.7 ± 0.5 years; 63% female). Schools were randomized to either an intervention group (single 1-hour session) or a no-intervention control group. Assessments were conducted one week before the intervention, one week after, and at an 8-week follow-up. Primary outcomes included body satisfaction, internalization of appearance ideals, and self-objectification. Among participants with complete data, no significant differences were found between the intervention and control groups over time. Subgroup analyses by gender also revealed no significant effects. These findings partially diverge from those of the original study. Possible explanations include differences in participant age (older in our study), the use of different assessment instruments, and lower participants’ comprehension of the intervention. If confirmed, these results suggest that Digital Bodies may be more effective when implemented with younger adolescents and that strict adherence to the program protocol is essential for achieving positive outcomes.