Podcast program to improve body confidence in millennial women
Efficacy of a Podcast-based Body Image Intervention for Millennial Women: A Three-Arm Randomised Controlled Trial
This project will test whether a short body-confidence podcast, with or without a guided journal, helps UK women aged 29-44 who listen to podcasts feel better about their appearance.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 1800 (estimated) |
| Ages | 29 Years to 44 Years |
| Sex | Female |
| Sponsor | University of the West of England Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Chicago, Illinois) |
| Trial ID | NCT07113678 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
In this three-arm randomized controlled trial, 1,800 English-speaking women aged 29-44 in the United Kingdom who already listen to podcasts will be randomized to a body-confidence podcast plus a companion journal, the podcast alone, or a control episode unrelated to body image. The intervention podcast includes a cognitive-dissonance exercise asking listeners to identify costs of appearance pressures, downsides of pursuing beauty ideals, and routines that support well-being independent of appearance. The primary outcome is appearance esteem measured one day after the intervention, with secondary outcomes including internalization of appearance ideals, self-objectification, and weight esteem assessed at follow-up points. Episodes and journals were developed with academic input from the Centre for Appearance Research and delivered remotely with recruitment handled by a research agency.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal participants are UK-based, English-speaking women aged 29-44 who regularly listen to podcasts and have access to a personal device.
Not a fit: Women who never listen to podcasts or who have already heard the specific episode used in the intervention are unlikely to benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this low-cost, widely accessible format could boost body confidence and reduce harmful appearance-related attitudes among millennial women.
How similar studies have performed: Cognitive-dissonance and media-literacy approaches have shown benefit for body image in younger samples, but direct evidence for podcast-delivered programs is limited and relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Be fluent in English * Identify as a woman between 29 and 44 years * Be based in the UK * Has a personal device to complete the study Exclusion Criteria: * Never listens to podcasts * Has listened to part or all of the How To Fail podcast episode featuring Pamela Anderson
Where this trial is running
Chicago, Illinois
- C+R Research Services, Inc. — Chicago, Illinois, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Kirsty Garbett, DPhil — University of the West of England
- Study coordinator: Kirsty Garbett, DPhil
- Email: kirsty.garbett@uwe.ac.uk
- Phone: +441173282911
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.