Pure versus guided mirror exposure to reduce body dissatisfaction: A preliminary study with university women

• Published in: Body image Vol. 9; no. 2; pp. 285 - 288
• Main Authors: Moreno-Domínguez, Silvia, Rodríguez-Ruiz, Sonia, Fernández-Santaella, Mª Carmen, Jansen, Anita, Tuschen-Caffier, Brunna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2012
• Subjects: Adult; Analysis of Variance; Body dissatisfaction; Body Dysmorphic Disorders - psychology; Body Dysmorphic Disorders - therapy; Body Image; Body Mass Index; Extinction; Female; Human Body; Humans; Imagery (Psychotherapy) - methods; Imagery exposure; Mirror exposure; Personal Satisfaction; Spain; Students - psychology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Treatment Outcome; University women; Young Adult; Spain; Body dissatisfaction; Mirror exposure; University women; Extinction; Imagery exposure
• ISSN: 1740-1445; 1873-6807
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2011.12.001

► The effectiveness of a pure mirror exposure intervention was evaluated with undergraduate women. ► Pure and guided mirror exposure successfully reduced body dissatisfaction over time. ► Pure mirror exposure was superior to other interventions in decreasing subjective discomfort within and between sessions. While effectiveness of mirror exposure to reduce body dissatisfaction has been demonstrated, the exposure was almost always combined with other interventions. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a pure mirror exposure intervention compared with a guided mirror exposure (participants are guided to describe their body shape in a non-evaluative manner) and an imagery exposure intervention (participants are guided to describe their body through mental representation). Thirty-one women with high body dissatisfaction received five sessions of treatment under one of the three conditions. All interventions reduced body dissatisfaction, but only the mirror exposures successfully reduced the frequency of negative thoughts and feelings of ugliness. Pure mirror exposure was more effective than guided exposure for reducing body discomfort within and between sessions. Pure mirror exposure, based on the traditional extinction paradigm, led to strong emotional activation followed by a fast decrease in emotional reactivity.