Intervenção analítico-comportamental de curta duração on-line para um grupo de mulheres insatisfeitas com a imagem corporal: pesquisa-ação

Abstract

Body image is a verbal construction that involves the individual's learning history regarding his body, composing his identity process. The social standards about attractiveness and the social demands for women to reach beauty is related to body dissatisfaction and undermines women's relationship with their own body image. Therefore, this work proposed to create and implement a short-term on-line behavioral- analytical intervention for a group of women dissatisfied with their body image. As a consequence, it sought to describe topographically and functionally the body image complaints in a group of women; present an on-line, brief, group-based behavioral- analytical intervention for the management of complaints related to body image; and identify the effects of this intervention. A qualitative methodological design of the action- research type was used. The intervention was carried out between August and September 2022 and had five psychotherapeutic on-line sessions, plus two individual interviews (screening and evaluation of therapeutic effects). The data were analyzed through content analysis, under the Behavior Analysis theoretical framework. The results were presented in order to describe the research process: at first, the results obtained from the screening interview, exploring the characterization of the participants; the qualitative analysis of body dissatisfaction before the intervention; the learning experiences regarding they physical form; the establishment of the body-self relationship; the coping repertory from the aversive experience with the body and the attempts to body modification. Then, the stages of the action-research cycle: a) planning (pre-intervention actions); b) action (therapeutic group structure and its execution); c) description and monitoring (description of each group psychotherapeutic session); and d) evaluation of the intervention. From data collected, the results shown that the intervention was successful and promising. This minimized the body dissatisfaction and promoted changes in the relationship with the body. The modality adopted proved to be feasible, and contributed positively to the clinical performance in these cases. The psychologist's therapeutic skills and the therapeutic bond were two decisive factors in this process. Thus, the brief group on-line behavioral intervention to deal with complaints and demands related to body dissatisfaction among women is a promising clinical alternative, with positive therapeutic effects.