Effectiveness of a Contemplative Practice on Psychological Well-Being, Self-Deconstruction, Body Image, Body Acceptance, and Compassion in Women

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of a contemplative practice called Feeding Your Demons (FYD), based on a secular adaptation of Tibetan Buddhism, in improving psychological well-being, body image, body acceptance, compassion, and self-deconstruction in adult women aged 30 to 60. This randomized controlled trial compares FYD with an active control group practicing mindfulness meditation, aiming to understand how these practices impact mental and emotional health. The study includes 122 women fluent in Spanish, with prior meditation experience. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the FYD or mindfulness meditation group. Both interventions are delivered online over eight weeks, involving weekly home practice sessions guided by audio. Each group receives three expert-led sessions: an initial individual meeting, a group session at week 4, and a final group session at week 8. The FYD practice involves a structured process of identifying internal challenges and transforming them through acceptance and compassion, while the mindfulness group focuses on breath awareness and non-judgmental observation. Participants will complete assessments before and after the intervention, and again at a six-month follow-up. These include psychological measures such as the Delusion of Me Index, Body Appreciation Scale, and various questionnaires on mindfulness, self-compassion, and body acceptance. A subgroup will also take part in qualitative interviews. Researchers will analyze changes over time and relationships between variables to understand the effects of both practices on well-being, compassion, and self-perception.

Contemplative Practice for Well-being and Self-Deconstruction in Women