Habit FrameworkA Single-session Intervention Adaptation of the Habit Framework for the Prevention of Eating Disorders

This online randomized controlled trial of a habit training intervention includes one 30-minute session for young adults endorsing high levels of eating pathology. The intervention will occur at one timepoint.

The control intervention will consist of supportive therapy focusing on sharing emotions and include an introduction to emotions, writing about emotions, testimonials from other adolescents about the power of sharing emotions, and an exercise asking adolescents how different situations might make them feel.

Individuals will complete an online screening survey through an online study advertisement to determine initial eligibility. The screening survey will ask participants to report their gender and age and complete the Eating Attitudes Test - 26-item (EAT-26). EAT-26 scores equal to or greater than 20 indicate risk for an eating disorder. EAT-26, participants will meet the "referral criteria" which includes a score of 20 or more or meeting frequency criteria on bingeing, purging, laxative/diuretic use, and/or exercise. If an interested individual is not eligible, they will be notified that they are not currently eligible for the study and provided with resources.

Eligible participants will complete pre-intervention questionnaires including demographics and symptom measures.

The SSI will consist of four components: 1)psychoeducation, 2) real-life examples, 3) common questions and misconceptions, and 4) providing advice to other young adults. Psychoeducation will focus on the brain bases of habit formation and EDs, as per REACH+ treatment manual. Participants will then be asked to think of a real-life example of an eating habit in which they have been engaged, such as limiting their intake of dessert foods. Participants will then be provided with REACH+ developed psychoeducation regarding changing habits, including information on competing responses, stimulus control, and exposure. Participants will have the opportunity to write out how they could use one of these strategies to tackle the habit that they previously wrote about. They will be provided with a worksheet to help them move through each aspect of changing their habit based on what they learned.

The control condition will be matched to the SSI by including both reading and writing exercises. The control intervention will consist of supportive therapy focusing on sharing emotions and include an introduction to emotions, writing about emotions, testimonials from other adolescents about the power of sharing emotions, and an exercise asking adolescents how different situations might make them feel.

Participants will complete additional questionnaires at the end of the intervention, including acceptability ratings and program feedback. Participants will provide an email address at the end of the questionnaires for receipt of four-week follow-up questionnaires.