Pubertal Health Group Counseling Based on Problem-Solving, for Body Image Concerns and Anxiety in Adolescent Girls

Abstract

Background: Body image concerns often arise during puberty. The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of pubertal health group counseling based on problem-solving for body image concerns and anxiety in adolescent girls.

Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 100 adolescent female students in Babol City during 2022-2023. The intervention group participated in weekly 90-min problem-solving group counseling on puberty health for 6 weeks. Data collection utilized socio-demographic questionnaires, Littleton's Body Image Concern Inventory, and the Zung Anxiety Scale.

Results: The mean difference in reduced body image concerns and anxiety before, immediately after, and 6 weeks post-study in the problem-solving consulting group was statistically significant (p < 0.005), unlike the control group. In the intervention group, the mean differences in body image concern were -21.40 (95% CI = -17.91 to -24.89) before to immediately, and -18.76 (95% CI = -15.07 to -22.44) before to 6 weeks later (p < 0.001). The average anxiety differences for these intervals were -9.68 (95% CI = -6.83 to -12.52) and -8.52 (95% CI = -6.06 to -19.97) in the intervention group (p < 0.001). The ANCOVA test results indicated a difference in body image concern and anxiety scores between the two groups after the study, accounting for baseline values with a reduction observed in the counseling group (p < 0.001). The effect sizes of body image concern and anxiety were 0.56 and 0.41, respectively.

Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that problem-solving group counseling effectively reduces body image concerns and anxiety in adolescent girls. Policymakers can leverage this research for health planning in counseling for this demographic.

Trial registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials: (IRCT20180218038783N3).

Keywords: adolescents; anxiety; body image; puberty.