Image credit: North Australia Media
What our research found
Researchers Professor Ivanka Prichard and PhD candidate Pip Granfield at The Embrace Impact Lab at Flinders University have conducted six pieces of research on the Embrace Kids programs and resources that show they are safe and effective. One study found that the EMBRACE KIDS film in its entirety improved body appreciation and self compassion in both children and parents who saw the film. Two further studies on the Embrace Kids Classroom Program have been conducted.
Study 1: Pilot trial in primary schools
The Flinders University Embrace Impact Lab conducted an independent pilot evaluation of the EKCP in 2023. Five Australian primary schools with 361 students aged 10-12 participated in the pilot trial. Students completed four surveys—two before and two after the program—assessing body appreciation, functionality appreciation, self-compassion, wellbeing and behavioural intentions. Additionally, feedback from students and teachers on the EKCP was collected. The pre-program surveys captured baseline feelings, while the post-program surveys (one week and one month later) assessed changes in students’ perceptions of themselves and their bodies.
In this first pilot trial, published in Body Image, the EKCP was found to be acceptable to both students and teachers, indicating its potential for widespread implementation in schools. There was no change from pre- to post-test on measures of body image, however this is not uncommon in evaluations of universal interventions among pre-teen students, which target large, relatively healthy populations. Additionally, body image improvement might not always manifest as measurable change in the short term, while other positive aspects (such as self-compassion) can show more immediate effects. Importantly, body image didn’t decline as a result of taking part in the EKCP. This was important to establish, because many people are concerned that programs like this might ‘plant seeds’ of body dissatisfaction, especially among younger audiences.
Students did show a small increase in self-compassion one week after completion of the program. Although this increase was not sustained one month after completing the EKCP, the positive short-term benefit of promoting self-compassion among pre-adolescents is an encouraging finding, particularly given the widespread positive impact of self-compassion on a range of mental health outcomes, including depression and anxiety.
What was also encouraging was the high proportion of students indicating, after taking part in the EKCP, that they would behave more positively on social media. While we only saw short-term improvements after students took part in the EKCP, the positive short-term effects should not be underestimated. Early interventions like the EKCP lay important groundwork for healthier attitudes and behaviours. Even brief boosts in self-compassion, combined with the stability of students’ body image throughout the research, may have lasting ripple effects on students’ overall wellbeing—particularly if these messages are reinforced over time.
