The Enduring Impact of Female Genital Mutilation and a Novel Path to Healing: Exploring Positive Psychology’s Role in Enhancing Self-Esteem and Body Image
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a deeply entrenched cultural practice affecting millions of women worldwide, with severe physical, psychological, and sociocultural consequences. Despite global efforts to eradicate it, FGM persists in numerous communities, leaving survivors to grapple with enduring trauma, compromised body image, and diminished self-esteem. Recent research by O. Mahmoudi, published in BMC Psychology (2025), sheds light on an innovative psychological intervention aimed at ameliorating the profound negative effects of FGM. Employing a positive psychology framework, Mahmoudi’s work offers a promising avenue to boost self-esteem and body image satisfaction among affected women, challenging prevailing narratives and fostering holistic healing.
FGM comprises a range of procedures that intentionally alter or injure female genital organs for non-medical reasons. The World Health Organization classifies FGM into four types, all of which can cause lifelong physical and psychological repercussions. The immediate effects can include severe pain, hemorrhage, infection, and complications in childbirth, but the psychological scars often manifest as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and pervasive body dissatisfaction. This multi-layered trauma significantly undermines the mental health of survivors, frequently trampling over their self-worth and self-concept.
Traditional interventions in FGM have primarily focused on prevention through education and legal enforcement; however, less attention has been paid to post-mutilation rehabilitation, especially in the domain of psychological healing. Mahmoudi’s research fills this critical gap by harnessing positive psychology—a branch of psychology that emphasizes strengths, well-being, and optimal functioning rather than pathology—as a basis for therapeutic intervention. Positive psychology seeks to build resilience, foster positive emotions, and nurture a healthy self-perception, standing in stark contrast to deficit-focused approaches predominant in trauma treatment.
The study employed a comprehensive intervention program tailored for women who had undergone FGM, designed to enhance self-esteem and body image satisfaction through evidence-based positive psychology techniques. Elements such as gratitude exercises, strength identification, cognitive reframing, and mindfulness-based body awareness were integrated into the therapeutic process. These methods aim to reinforce intrinsic worth, redirect negative thought patterns around bodily disfigurement, and cultivate a compassionate relationship with the body overall.
A key theoretical underpinning of Mahmoudi’s approach is the concept of self-compassion, which involves treating oneself with kindness in moments of suffering and recognizing humanity in shared imperfections. For survivors of FGM, who often experience body shame and guilt, increasing self-compassion is essential to undoing internalized stigma. The intervention encouraged participants to practice self-compassion meditation and journaling, which helped them process trauma while fostering acceptance and resilience.
Another significant component of the intervention was mindfulness, which teaches individuals to observe their thoughts and sensations nonjudgmentally in the present moment. Mindfulness training helped participants detach from automatic negative appraisals of their bodies and enhance their bodily awareness without denial or avoidance. This mindful attention paved the way for improved body image satisfaction as women learned to appreciate their bodies beyond the injury and trauma.
Mahmoudi’s research design involved both quantitative and qualitative measures. Pre- and post-intervention assessments employed standardized psychological instruments to evaluate changes in self-esteem and body image perception. Qualitative interviews added depth by capturing personal narratives and emotional transformations. The results were compelling: women who underwent the intervention reported significant increases in self-esteem and greater satisfaction with their body image, alongside decreased distress related to their FGM experiences.
Furthermore, the qualitative data illuminated transformative processes that participants underwent, including reclaiming agency over their bodies, redefining personal identity beyond victimhood, and fostering hope for future well-being. This suggests that positive psychology interventions do not merely suppress symptoms but promote authentic psychological growth and empowerment for women affected by FGM. Mahmoudi argues that such an approach aligns with feminist perspectives on healing, which emphasize autonomy, dignity, and holistic recovery.
The implications of this research are profound for public health, mental health services, and humanitarian efforts targeting FGM survivors. Integrating positive psychology interventions into rehabilitation programs can complement medical and social services, addressing the deep psychological wounds that often go unhealed. Training local practitioners, including community health workers and counselors, in these techniques could expand access to mental health care in resource-limited settings where FGM is prevalent.
Critically, Mahmoudi highlights the need for culturally sensitive adaptation of positive psychology interventions. Since FGM practices and beliefs vary widely across regions, tailoring the content to respect cultural values while promoting psychological well-being is essential. Inclusion of community leaders and survivors in intervention development ensures that programs are relevant, acceptable, and effective, reducing resistance and enhancing participation.
The study also calls for further longitudinal research to assess the durability of these psychological benefits over time and their impact on broader life domains such as relationships, occupational functioning, and overall quality of life. Future research might explore combining positive psychology with other therapeutic modalities like trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy or somatic therapies to create synergistic effects in healing complex trauma.
Importantly, Mahmoudi’s work challenges the dominant narrative that centers only on the pathology and victimization associated with FGM. By foregrounding strengths and well-being, the research repositions survivors as resilient agents capable of reclaiming their self-worth and body esteem. This paradigm shift has the potential to transform both clinical practice and societal attitudes toward affected women, empowering them through a narrative of hope and recovery rather than stigma and suffering.
In sum, Mahmoudi’s 2025 study in BMC Psychology represents a pivotal advancement in the mental health care of women affected by female genital mutilation. By leveraging the principles and interventions of positive psychology, this research offers an innovative therapeutic avenue that enhances self-esteem and body image satisfaction, addressing critical yet often overlooked dimensions of recovery. As the global community continues to combat FGM, integrating such evidence-based psychological approaches will be vital in fostering holistic healing, resilience, and empowerment for survivors worldwide.
Subject of Research:
Psychological interventions to improve self-esteem and body image satisfaction in women who have undergone female genital mutilation using positive psychology techniques.
Article Title:
Boosting self-esteem and body image satisfaction in women affected by FGM: a positive psychology approach.
Article References:
Mahmoudi, O. Boosting self-esteem and body image satisfaction in women affected by FGM: a positive psychology approach. BMC Psychol (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03833-3
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