In an effort to assess the efficacy of the SPRING Forward educational program, our team completed a prospective cohort study looking at body image flexibility prior to and following completion of the 3-session version of the SPRING Forward curriculum.

 

Body image flexibility was assessed using a previously validated survey called the BI-AAQ (Body Image - Acceptance and Action) - this survey was administered prior to and following participation of athletes in the SPRING Forward curriculum. Overall scores on the BI-AAQ improved from 43.6 prior to participation in the SPRING Forward curriculum to 54.1 following completion of the SPRING Forward curriculum. This difference was statistically significant with a p-value <0.01 meaning the results of this study were unlikely to be caused by chance alone and thus are of significant value. 

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The above research was completed using the 3-session curricular model of SPRING Forward. In this version, athletes participated in three 1-hour sessions throughout their sport season. This model was initially selected as similar programs held at the collegiate level follow the 3-session design.

 

Following publication of the research project, we updated the curriculum to a single session that is 2 hours long as we discovered many athletes were unable to attend three separate sessions throughout their athletic season. To keep with our goal to ensure the program was accessible, we condensed the program with the aim of increasing program participation rates.

 

There is a need to complete updated research on the efficacy of the single session SPRING Forward program in addition to assessment of expanded outcome measures beyond body image flexibility.