Pennebaker’s therapeutic writing paradigm was assessed as a brief intervention for negative body image. Females were randomly
assigned to write about their body image (experimental; n = 23) or their
bedroom (controls; n = 25) for four days. Body image, eating-disordered behavior, and mood were assessed at baseline, after the 4th day of writing, and at 1-month follow-up. Despite hypotheses that experimental
participants would show more improvement over time, participation in
the study, regardless of condition, was related to significant improvements in body image and mood, and decreased eating-disordered behavior
over time. Placebo, sensitization effects, and regression to the mean
are discussed as potential explanations for this unexpected finding. Suggestions
for future research are made
