Užsiėmimų, paremtų šokio - judesio terapija, efektyvumas keičiant 18-25 m. merginų kūno vaizdą ; The efficacy of sessions based on dance / movement therapy in altering body image of 18-25 years old girls

The aim of the research is to evaluate the efficacy of sessions based on dance/movement therapy in altering body image of 18-25 years old girls. 105 girls from Vytautas Magnus University Social Sciences Faculty participated in the research. 40 girls of the intervention group attended all of the five sessions based on dance/movement therapy. 37 girls of the control group attended a lecture and pre and post measuring. Once a week intervention group participants attended one and a half an hour duration sessions based on dance/movement therapy designed for improving body image. Control group participated in two hours duration lecture about eating disorders, distorted body image and the applicability of dance/movement therapy. In order to evaluate the efficacy of the sessions based on dance/movement therapy research participants filled in Body Shape, Eating Attitude, Evaluation of Sessions Utility Questionnaires, Positive and Negative Emotions, Weight Preoccupation, Appearance Evaluation, Appearance Orientation, Body Areas Satisfaction Scales. Research participants had to fill in Positive and Negative Emotions scales before and after each session as well. The results of the research indicate that the methods used in the sessions based on dance/movement therapy have a positive effect on improving body image, i.e. positive emotions towards one’s body increased, negative ones – decreased in quantity, preoccupation with weight and appearance reduced and one’s appearance evaluation improved for the girls of 18-25 years old. The research has also shown that after each session girls were feeling more positive emotions and less negative emotions towards their bodies. Also, results indicate that satisfaction of such body areas as hair, hands, hips, buttock, thighs and weight increased more in the intervention group than in the control group. What is more, positive changes in positive emotions towards one’s body, preoccupation with one’s appearance and appearance evaluation were found greater in the intervention group than in the control group. Though, the sessions based on dance-movement therapy didn’t reduce disordered eating behavior. The results also indicate that body image improved in the group of higher BMI of the intervention group.