Assessing the Efficacy of a Song to Improve Body Appreciation Among Young Children: A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial in UK Primary Schools

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating a song intervention designed to improve body appreciation among UK children aged 4 to 6 years. This study aims to determine if children can understand a body confidence message delivered through an audio-only song without visual aids, and whether listening to this song improves their body appreciation compared to an active control song. The trial builds on previous work that showed a music video version of the song helped protect children's body appreciation. The study randomly assigns approximately 200 children from Reception and Year 1 classes to one of two groups: one listens to the body confidence song "My Body is Amazing," which highlights body functionality and the five senses, and the other listens to an active control song "Brush your Teeth," focused on dental hygiene. Each child completes baseline assessments, listens to their assigned song, completes post-intervention measures, and then listens to the other song to reduce contamination. Participants take part in one-on-one structured interviews at school involving play-based questions to assess body appreciation, song comprehension, and acceptability immediately before and after the song exposure. The main outcome is the change in body appreciation measured by two specially designed items. Researchers also explore whether effects differ by gender, school year, or comprehension. The study includes careful statistical analysis and plans for handling missing data, with overall participation lasting a single session.

Assessing the Efficacy of a Song to Improve Body Appreciation Among Young Children