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Attrition from self-directed interventions: Investigating the relationship between psychological predictors, intervention content and dropout from a body dissatisfaction intervention

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  • Geraghty, Adam W.A.
  • Wood, Alex M.
  • Hyland, Michael E.

Abstract

The aims of this study were to (a) identify the predictors of attrition from a fully self-directed intervention, and (b) to test whether an intervention to increase gratitude is an effective way to reduce body dissatisfaction. Participants (N = 479, from the United Kingdom) aged 18-76 years took part in a self-help study via the Internet and were randomized to receive one of two interventions, gratitude diaries (n = 130), or thought monitoring and restructuring (n = 118) or a waitlist control (n = 231) for a two week body dissatisfaction intervention. The gratitude intervention (n = 40) was as effective as monitoring and restructuring (n = 22) in reducing body dissatisfaction, and both interventions were significantly more effective than the control condition (n = 120). Participants in the gratitude group were more than twice as likely to complete the intervention compared to those in the monitoring and restructuring group. Intervention content, baseline expectancy and internal locus of control significantly predicted attrition. This study shows that a gratitude intervention can be as effective as a technique commonly used in cognitive therapy and is superior in retaining participants. Prediction of attrition is possible from both intervention content and psychological variables.

Suggested Citation

  • Geraghty, Adam W.A. & Wood, Alex M. & Hyland, Michael E., 2010. "Attrition from self-directed interventions: Investigating the relationship between psychological predictors, intervention content and dropout from a body dissatisfaction intervention," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 71(1), pages 30-37, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:71:y:2010:i:1:p:30-37
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Lukasz Kaczmarek & Jolanta Enko & Małgorzata Awdziejczyk & Natalia Hoffmann & Natalia Białobrzeska & Przemysław Mielniczuk & Stephan Dombrowski, 2016. "Would You Be Happier If You Looked Better? A Focusing Illusion," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 357-365, February.
    2. Erin M. Fekete & Nathan T. Deichert, 2022. "A Brief Gratitude Writing Intervention Decreased Stress and Negative Affect During the COVID-19 Pandemic," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(6), pages 2427-2448, August.
    3. Izabela Krejtz & John Nezlek & Anna Michnicka & Paweł Holas & Marzena Rusanowska, 2016. "Counting One’s Blessings Can Reduce the Impact of Daily Stress," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 25-39, February.
    4. Alison Killen & Ann Macaskill, 2015. "Using a Gratitude Intervention to Enhance Well-Being in Older Adults," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 16(4), pages 947-964, August.
    5. Anna Alkozei & Ryan Smith & William D. S. Killgore, 2018. "Gratitude and Subjective Wellbeing: A Proposal of Two Causal Frameworks," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 19(5), pages 1519-1542, June.
    6. Hongyan Jiang & Peizhen Sun & Yeyi Liu & Mengjie Pan, 2016. "Gratitude and Late Adolescents’ School Well-being: The Mediating Role of Materialism," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 127(3), pages 1363-1376, July.
    7. David R. Cregg & Jennifer S. Cheavens, 2021. "Gratitude Interventions: Effective Self-help? A Meta-analysis of the Impact on Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 413-445, January.
    8. Lia-Ecaterina Oltean & Andrei C. Miu & Radu Șoflău & Aurora Szentágotai-Tătar, 2022. "Tailoring Gratitude Interventions. How and for Whom Do They Work? The Potential Mediating Role of Reward Processing and the Moderating Role of Childhood Adversity and Trait Gratitude," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(6), pages 3007-3030, August.

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