Development and evaluation of a psychoeducational internet intervention to increase men's help-seeking for body image and disordered eating/exercise concerns

2012 Summer.Includes bibliographical references.Statistics reveal that body image and disordered eating/exercise concerns among men are widespread; however, few men actually seek help. Researchers need to identify factors that prevent men from using available services in order to inform interventions specifically designed for men who are at-risk. Studies have shown that higher Gender Role Conflict (GRC) is related to both increased body image and disordered eating/exercise concerns in men as well as decreased help-seeking as defined by the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). The help-seeking literature suggests that the most effective interventions for men are those that target these variables and are also non-traditional. The purpose of the current study was to develop an effective internet intervention to increase help-seeking in men for body image and disordered eating/exercise concerns. Two-hundred-ninety-six undergraduate men were assessed for GRC, body image and disordered eating/exercise attitudes and behaviors, and help-seeking factors at pretest. One week later, they were exposed to the independent variable (intervention or no intervention) and were assessed again posttest. Regression analyses and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) indicated that self-stigma of seeking help and attitudes toward seeking help are important predictors and mediators. ANCOVAs revealed statistically significant intervention effects for all help-seeking variables compared to the control group. These results suggest that educating men about body image concerns might be an effective way of increasing help-seeking