Thesis (Ph. D.)--Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 84-103). Also available via the Internet.

<p>I större städer är det vanligare med stress, oro och ångest. Av den anledningen fanns det skäl att tro att individer i storstäder skiljde sig från individer på landsbygden även gällande annan psykisk ohälsa. Studiens syfte var att undersöka om det fanns någon skillnad i ungdomars självrapporterade ätbeteende respektive kroppsuppfattning beroende på urbanisationsgrad, kön och BMI. Deltagarna i undersökningen var 140 gymnasieelever indelade i två grupper, storstad och tätort, utifrån urbanisationsgrad. Undersökningsmaterialet bestod främst av The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), några frågor från Eating Disorder Inventory-2 samt Figure Rating Scale. Resultaten visade att det inte fanns någon skillnad i ungdomars ätbeteende respektive kroppsuppfattning beroende på urbanisationsgrad, men däremot beroende på kön och BMI.</p>

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2006. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file viewed on (April 25, 2006) Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2005. / Bibliography: leaves 119-134.

I större städer är det vanligare med stress, oro och ångest. Av den anledningen fanns det skäl att tro att individer i storstäder skiljde sig från individer på landsbygden även gällande annan psykisk ohälsa. Studiens syfte var att undersöka om det fanns någon skillnad i ungdomars självrapporterade ätbeteende respektive kroppsuppfattning beroende på urbanisationsgrad, kön och BMI. Deltagarna i undersökningen var 140 gymnasieelever indelade i två grupper, storstad och tätort, utifrån urbanisationsgrad. Undersökningsmaterialet bestod främst av The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), några frågor från Eating Disorder Inventory-2 samt Figure Rating Scale. Resultaten visade att det inte fanns någon skillnad i ungdomars ätbeteende respektive kroppsuppfattning beroende på urbanisationsgrad, men däremot beroende på kön och BMI.

Grounded in Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985, 2000), the purpose of this thesis was to investigate the protective role of self-determined (i.e., autonomous motivation) relative to non self-determined motivation (i.e., controlled motivation) in response to various media portrayals of the female body. Findings from three laboratory experiments support these hypotheses. Women who felt less self-determined in their daily activities (Study 1 and Study 3) and in the regulation of their eating behaviors (Study 2), perceived more pressure from the media to be thin (Study 1), experienced more body dissatisfaction (Study 1 and Study 2), expressed greater concerns over the quantity of food in their diets (Study 1), and reported more negative affect (Study 2) following exposure to a video which exemplified the societal ―thin ideal‖ compared to a video which did not. They also generated more negative self-appraisals of their body‘s appearance and competence (Study 3), experienced more body shame (Study 3), and reported more introjected reasons for restricting their actual intake of chocolate (Study 3) following exposure to video which depicted the female body as an instrument of women‘s actions compared to one which depicted the female body as object (Study 3). Conversely, women who felt more self-determined in their daily activities (Study 1 and Study 3) expressed greater concerns over the quality of food in their diet (Study 1) and reported less vitality (Study 3) in response to media portrayals of women engaged in self-care (Study 1) and physical activities (Study 3). However, body dissatisfied women who felt more self-determined in the regulation of their eating behaviors (Study 2) formulated more intentions to monitor their food intake and eat fewer unhealthy foods (Study 2) after viewing a video of thin female models compared to no models. Together, these findings support a protective function for self-determined motivation and a potentiating function for non self-determined motivation.

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge and experiences of school counsellors, teachers, and school-based personnel in the area of girls body image. Participants perspectives were described and implications identified for ways in which teachers can encourage positive body image for girls in their classrooms. The idea for this research evolved from my interest in positive self-esteem, and academic and social success. As a teacher, I find that girls (more so than boys) base their success on body image. Girls often turn to harmful health behaviours such as disordered eating or excessive exercise because of dissatisfaction with their bodies (Tiggemann, 2005; ODea, 2000). I hoped to find ways for teachers to foster positive body image, and I believed school counsellors, teachers, and school-based personnel would be a useful source of information on this topic. I brought to this research a desire to hear, understand, and make meaning from these professionals experiences of working with girls.<p>There are a variety of things a teacher can do to create a positive environment in the school setting relating to body image. Focus group participants felt teachers and other school personnel could: <br>(a) openly allow body image discussion in the classrooms either through Talking Circles or Body Talk; <br>(b) promote active lifestyles; <br>(c) promote healthy eating habits; and <br>(d) act as role models by modelling the right examples. <p>Listening and encouraging students can also create a positive environment. The normal development of bodies should be discussed openly in the classrooms. In order to help create positive body images in young girls, participants believed it was important for teachers and school personnel to: participate in empathy training (learning to talk to each other and to listen to each other), educate parents; train physical education teachers; encourage students to write daily journals and critically analyze media literacy.

Grounded in Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985, 2000), the purpose of this thesis was to investigate the protective role of self-determined (i.e., autonomous motivation) relative to non self-determined motivation (i.e., controlled motivation) in response to various media portrayals of the female body. Findings from three laboratory experiments support these hypotheses. Women who felt less self-determined in their daily activities (Study 1 and Study 3) and in the regulation of their eating behaviors (Study 2), perceived more pressure from the media to be thin (Study 1), experienced more body dissatisfaction (Study 1 and Study 2), expressed greater concerns over the quantity of food in their diets (Study 1), and reported more negative affect (Study 2) following exposure to a video which exemplified the societal ―thin ideal‖ compared to a video which did not. They also generated more negative self-appraisals of their body‘s appearance and competence (Study 3), experienced more body shame (Study 3), and reported more introjected reasons for restricting their actual intake of chocolate (Study 3) following exposure to video which depicted the female body as an instrument of women‘s actions compared to one which depicted the female body as object (Study 3). Conversely, women who felt more self-determined in their daily activities (Study 1 and Study 3) expressed greater concerns over the quality of food in their diet (Study 1) and reported less vitality (Study 3) in response to media portrayals of women engaged in self-care (Study 1) and physical activities (Study 3). However, body dissatisfied women who felt more self-determined in the regulation of their eating behaviors (Study 2) formulated more intentions to monitor their food intake and eat fewer unhealthy foods (Study 2) after viewing a video of thin female models compared to no models. Together, these findings support a protective function for self-determined motivation and a potentiating function for non self-determined motivation.

Problematic levels of eating disorder (ED) spectrum problems are becoming increasingly pervasive on college campuses, especially among female college students. Research suggests that ED cognitions and a lack of body image acceptance are linked to diminished psychological flexibility (PF), which is linked to ED and other negative health symptoms. Two hundred thirty-six undergraduates completed an online survey, and mediation analyses were conducted. PF fully mediated the relation between ED cognitions and non-specific psychiatric symptoms and partially mediated the link between ED cognitions and ED symptoms. PF also partially mediated the link between body image acceptance and non-specific psychiatric symptoms, but not the relation between body image acceptance and ED symptoms. Findings suggest that clinical symptoms and one’s coping style are both important factors to take into consideration in case conceptualization and treatment, and suggest that therapies such as ACT that target PF may be beneficial in treating ED spectrum problems.

Several studies shows that dietary supplements do not have any proven effects on health, yet these supplements are increasing in sales. The study aims to find out what attitudes and knowledge people involved in physical activity have towards supplements and which factors influence them to buy supplements. How these factors differ between men and women was investigated. The study is based on answers from 100 collected questionnaires from people who are physically active at several gyms. Of those who participated in the study, 56 percent were men and 44 percent were women. The study showed that the influence of family and friends and to speed recovery after exercise, were the two most common reasons that affected men and women into buying dietary supplements. The study also showed that the majority of the participants found the supplements to be a good complement to their regular diet. Overall the study shows that the use of supplement is high among the respondents and women and men take supplements for different reasons.