Comparing the effectiveness of stress inoculation training and mindfulness skills training on appearance anxiety, self-criticism, metacognitive evaluation of body dysmorphic disorder, and self-acceptance in female students with body image obsessions .
Comparison of the effectiveness of stress inoculation training and mindfulness skills training on appearance anxiety, self‑criticism, metacognitive evaluation of body dysmorphic disorder, and self‑acceptance in female students with body image obsession
Design
A controlled clinical trial with parallel groups and double‑blind design, selected through purposive sampling and then assigned through simple randomization into three groups of 15 participants
Settings and conduct
The study is conducted at the Fanous Rah Psychological Center in Ahvaz on female students with body image obsession. After conducting a diagnostic interview and screening with the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Questionnaire (minimum score of 10), 45 individuals are purposively selected and then randomly assigned to three groups: stress inoculation training, mindfulness training, and the control group. The interventions are delivered in group sessions by a psychology specialist
Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
Be at least 15 years old and at most 17 years old, female, Having body dysmorphic disorder;
Exclusion criteria:
Having mental disorders and taking psychiatric medications, Having physical problems that interfere with the intervention process
Intervention groups
Intervention Group 1: Stress inoculation training; based on Meichenbaum’s standard protocol (1985) and Mobini’s translation (1997), it is implemented in 9 weekly group sessions of 120 minutes for the experimental group.
Intervention Group 2: Mindfulness skills training; based on the protocol of Bowen and colleagues (2011), it is implemented in 8 weekly group sessions of 120 minutes for the members of the experimental group.
Control Group: It does not receive any intervention
Main outcome variables
Appearance Anxiety; Metacognitive evaluation of body dysmorphic disorder; self-criticism; self acceptance
General information
Reason for update
Acronym
IRCT registration information
IRCT registration number:IRCT20260202068746N1
Registration date:2026-04-29, 1405/02/09
Registration timing:prospective
Last update:2026-04-29, 1405/02/09
Update count:0
Registration date
2026-04-29, 1405/02/09
Registrant information
Name
Fatemeh Asadollah Salmanpoor
Name of organization / entity
Country
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Phone
+98 61 3322 3618
Email address
f.salmanpoor@iau.ir
Recruitment status
Recruitment complete
Funding source
Expected recruitment start date
2026-05-10, 1405/02/20
Expected recruitment end date
2026-05-31, 1405/03/10
Actual recruitment start date
empty
Actual recruitment end date
empty
Trial completion date
empty
Scientific title
Comparing the effectiveness of stress inoculation training and mindfulness skills training on appearance anxiety, self-criticism, metacognitive evaluation of body dysmorphic disorder, and self-acceptance in female students with body image obsessions .
Public title
Comparing the effectiveness of stress inoculation training and mindfulness skills training
Purpose
Education/Guidance
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
Be at least 15 years old and at most 17 years old
Female gender
Obsessive-compulsive disorder based on a diagnostic interview and a body deformity concern questionnaire (achieving a minimum score of 10 on the test)
Exclusion criteria:
Having mental disorders and taking psychiatric medications
Having physical problems that interfere with the intervention process
Age
From 15 years old to 17 years old
Gender
Female
Phase
N/A
Groups that have been masked
Care provider
Investigator
Outcome assessor
Sample size
Target sample size:
45
Randomization (investigator's opinion)
Randomized
Randomization description
In this study, simple randomization will be used to achieve completely random allocation and eliminate any researcher interference or bias. First, a complete list of the girls referring to the counseling center who meet the inclusion criteria will be prepared. Then, each of these individuals will be assigned an initial numerical identification code. These codes will be entered into the Random Number Generator software. The software will generate a unique random number for each individual. After generating the numbers, the participants will be listed in ascending order based on their random number. Next, sequentially, the first to fifteenth individuals on the list will be assigned to Experimental Group 1, the sixteenth to thirtieth individuals to Experimental Group 2, and the thirty‑first to forty‑fifth individuals to the Control Group. This process is designed so that neither the order of entry nor the researcher’s knowledge of the participants plays any role in the allocation process, and it will not be possible to predict any individual’s group before the randomization is completed
Blinding (investigator's opinion)
Double blinded
Blinding description
In this study, the researchers, clinical caretakers, and outcome assessors are all blinded to the group assignments, and codes are assigned to the participants
Placebo
Not used
Assignment
Parallel
Other design features
Secondary Ids
empty
Ethics committees
1
Ethics committee
Name of ethics committee
Ethics Committee of Islamic Azad University of Ahvaz Branch
Street address
Ahvaz Azad University, 22 Bahman Street, Farhang Shahr, Golestan Highway
City
Ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
37333 61349
Approval date
2026-01-18, 1404/10/28
Ethics committee reference number
IR.IAU.AHVAZ.REC.1404.634
Health conditions studied
1
Description of health condition studied
Body image obsession
ICD-10 code
F45.22
ICD-10 code description
Body dysmorphic disorder
Primary outcomes
1
Description
Appearance anxiety
Timepoint
Before the intervention, one week after completion of the intervention, one month after completion of the intervention
Method of measurement
Appearance Anxiety Inventory, Veale et al. (2014)
2
Description
Self-criticism
Timepoint
Before the intervention, one week after completion of the intervention, one month after completion of the intervention
Method of measurement
Levels of Self-Criticism Scale, Thompson and Zuroff (2004)
3
Description
Metacognitive assessment of body dysmorphic disorder
Timepoint
Before the intervention, one week after completion of the intervention, one month after completion of the intervention
Method of measurement
Metacognitive Assessment of Body Dysmorphic Disorder Questionnaire, Rabiei et al. (2011)
4
Description
Self-acceptance
Timepoint
Before the intervention, one week after completion of the intervention, one month after completion of the intervention
Method of measurement
Unconditional Self-Acceptance Questionnaire, Chamberlain and Haaga (2001)
Secondary outcomes
empty
Intervention groups
1
Description
First intervention group: Stress inoculation training based on Donald Maikenbaum's standard protocol (1985) and the version translated by Cyrus Mebini (1997), in the form of 9 group sessions, each session lasting 120 minutes, with weekly intervals.Session Summary: Session 1: Introduction, group goals, conceptualization of stress and its symptoms. Session 2: Relaxation and stress relief training. Session 3: Cognitive concepts, the role of thoughts in stress, negative automatic thoughts, cognitive errors.Session 4: Dealing with negative thoughts. Session 5: Training in guided self-talk and the role of negative self-talk. Session 6: Training in focusing thoughts and attention-redirecting techniques. Session 7: Training in problem-solving. Session 8: Training in anger management skills. Session 9: Integrated practice of skills in stressful situations, summarizing and ending.
Category
Behavior
2
Description
Second intervention group: Mindfulness-based training based on the standard protocol of Bowen et al. (2011), in the form of 8 group sessions, each session lasting 120 minutes, with weekly intervals .Sessions include mindfulness exercises (body scan, seated meditation, 3-minute breathing space, mindful body movement, mindful walking), non-judgmental awareness of thoughts and feelings, distinguishing thoughts from reality, managing barriers to practice, focusing on pleasant/unpleasant events, and applying skills to prevent relapse and increase well-being. Along with regular homework assignments.
Category
Behavior
3
Description
Control group: No intervention was performed.
Category
Behavior
Recruitment centers
1
Recruitment center
Name of recruitment center
Fanous Rah Specialized Counseling and Psychological Clinic
Full name of responsible person
Fatameh Asadollah Salmanpoor
Street address
No.186, West Esfahan Street, Golestan AVe., Ahvaz Town
City
Ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
۶۱۳۶۷۶۳۷۵۹
Phone
+98 61 3322 3618
Email
f.salmanpoor@gmail.com
Sponsors / Funding sources
1
Sponsor
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Dr. Aslan Egdar nejad
Street address
Islamic Azad University of Ahvaz, Farhang Shahr, Golestan Highway
City
Ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6134937333
Phone
+98 61 3334 8361
Email
a_eigder@yahoo.com
Grant name
Grant code / Reference number
Is the source of funding the same sponsor organization/entity?
Yes
Title of funding source
Islamic Azad University
Proportion provided by this source
100
Public or private sector
Private
Domestic or foreign origin
Domestic
Category of foreign source of funding
empty
Country of origin
Type of organization providing the funding
Academic
Person responsible for general inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Fatameh Asadollah Salmanpoor
Position
Phd Student
Latest degree
Master
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
No.186, West Esfahan Street, Golestan AVe., Ahvaz Town
City
Ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
۶۱۳۶۷۶۳۷۵۹
Phone
+98 61 3322 3618
Email
F.salmanpoor@iau.ir
Person responsible for scientific inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Fatemeh Sadat Marashian
Position
assistant professor
Latest degree
Ph.D.
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
Islamic Azad University of Ahvaz Branch, Farhangshahr
City
Ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6134937333
Phone
+98 61 3334 8420
Email
Fsmarashian@gmail.com
Person responsible for updating data
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Fatameh Asadollah Salmanpoor
Position
phd Student
Latest degree
Master
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
No.186, West Esfahan Street, Golestan AVe., Ahvaz Town
City
Ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
۶۱۳۶۷۶۳۷۵۹
Phone
+98 61 3322 3618
Email
F.salmanpoor@iau.ir
Sharing plan
Deidentified Individual Participant Data Set (IPD)
No - There is not a plan to make this available
Justification/reason for indecision/not sharing IPD
Due to the confidentiality of participant data, we are unable to publish the program.
Study Protocol
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Statistical Analysis Plan
No - There is not a plan to make this available
Informed Consent Form
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Clinical Study Report
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available