TransForm: Telling new stories about body image

Bibliotherapy is the idea that we can use stories about other people to help us think differently and more positively about our own concerns. Bringing bibliotherapy into the 21st Century, this project explores how we might use digital fictions online story-games to support young women in developing frameworks for more positive thinking regarding their body image.

Working with four groups of young women (aged 16-20 years) over a period of five weeks, researchers examined the participants' responses to a new form of interactive online story telling aka 'digital fictions', as well as the challenges these young women face in relation to body image.

The project was funded by the Welsh Crucible, an organisation designed to develop future research leaders in Wales by supporting researchers to develop interdisciplinary and creative ways of addressing global issues of the day. It is the first stage of a proposed programme of work that seeks to revolutionise online health care interventions.

The researchers in TransForm were Dr Sarah Riley (Psychology, Aberystwyth University), Prof Astrid Ensslin (School of Creative Studies and Media, Bangor University), Dr Joan Haran (Cesagen – Emerging Science, Changing Society, Cardiff University), Dr Alison Mackiewicz (Psychology, Aberystwyth University) and Dr Yi Gong (Sustainable Places Research Institute, Cardiff University).

Find out more about the project by coming along to Cardiff University, School of Social Sciences on 5 July.  There will be an opportunity to hear about the project and explore the website – an output from the project that seeks to disseminate the findings and provide a resource for young women, and those working with young women.

The meeting will take place in the Committee Rooms of the Glamorgan Building on July 5th from 5.30-7pm.  Attendance is free but places are limited. Please reserve a place by emailing scr2@aber.ac.uk.