BeYOUtiful: Assessing the Impact of a High School Girls’ Group

Abstract

Adolescent girls are at risk for having low self-esteem and low body satisfaction as a result of having a negative body image. Past research indicates that psychoeducational groups positively impact self-esteem and overall body satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a psychoeducational girls’ group focused on building a positive body image. The group will be detailed through describing the location and community of the site, explaining the recruitment process, and outlining the group sessions. Four high-school aged girls participated in the study. The results were measured through pre- and post-test administrations of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and Body Shape Questionnaire 16B. The results did not indicate statistically significant changes in self-esteem and body shape satisfaction. However, the numbers in the raw data showed that the group positively impacted self-esteem and overall body satisfaction. The findings are discussed and recommendations for future research are explored.