Previous research suggests that children begin to understand society’s standards of appearance by age five, and body dissatisfaction begins to develop in both girls and boys from age six. Professor Swami, an expert on body image, was consulted during the development of ‘Cinderella: The AMAZING truth’, with the aim of producing a show that could help children develop positive body and self-image.
Through workshops with more than 200 children, a contemporary new version of the traditional story was developed. The show covers topics such as body shaming and its effects, dealing with appearance expectations and fears, the impact of social media on body image, and the value of friendships in promoting healthier posture and improved self-esteem.
The study found that body appreciation scores for both boys and girls improved after watching the production. The number of comments about what made them ‘unique’ or ‘amazing’ also increased after the participation, for both boys and girls. Importantly, these improvements were achieved while maintaining near-universal enjoyment of the show and delivering important learning outcomes, as judged by the children’s qualitative responses.
Viren Swami, professor of social psychology at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), said: “We know that dissatisfaction with body and appearance is associated with adverse health and psychological consequences, including symptoms of depression, low self-esteem, eating disorders and reduced physical activity. , and this can start with children as young as age 6. “Social media is making children aware of unrealistic and unhealthy aspects of body image at an increasingly younger age.
That’s why it’s important to find new ways to face these threats by sending positive messages to young children. We have found that theater is a way to successfully talk to young children about appearance and positive body image. “It may not be feasible to reach all children through theatre, given the production costs and the barriers to participation, for example ticket prices.
However, we have shown the merits of using theatrical performance to promote healthy body image messages, as well as potentially embedding drama and theater with a body image focus into school curricula.”
Study co-author Sarah Punshon, who wrote and directed Cinderella: the AWESOME Truth for One Tenth Human, said, “Children’s theater has tremendous potential to promote positive body image.
Engaging storylines, recognizable characters and the use of ‘magic’ and music are all central. “Developing the show through in-depth exploration with children allowed us to tap into current concerns and desires and create a story that emphasizes that what makes a person truly great is what they and their bodies can do, not what they look like.
We are particularly pleased that the improvement was achieved for both boys and girls — previous studies have suggested that body image interventions may be less effective for boys,” she added.