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There is a well-established link between peer victimization and social anxiety disorder (SAD). Additionally, rates of bullying are significantly higher in obese compared to normal-weight individuals. However, social anxiety (SA) has not yet been examined in the context of weight, weight bias, and social rejection. This study examined the relationship between SA and weight in undergraduate women (N = 186). It aimed to determine whether implicit weight bias moderated the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and SA. In addition, it explored the interactive effects of SA, BMI, and body image salience on emotional response to exclusion in a social ostracism paradigm (Cyberball). Participants answered questions pertaining to SA and stigmatizing attitudes toward overweight/obesity and completed an implicit association test about weight. One week later, they played Cyberball, completing state measures of affect before and after the game. Although rates of clinically elevated SA did not differ significantly across normal-weight, overweight, and obese women, implicit weight bias did moderate the relationship between BMI and SA. The 3-way interaction of BMI, SA, and body image salience did not significantly predict post-exclusion state measures. However, body image salience moderated the relationship between SA and post-exclusion anxiety as well as between BMI and post-exclusion anxiety. Findings from this study shed light on the role of body weight in the experience of SA. Results suggest that higher BMI is associated with higher SA for those with high, but not low implicit weight bias. In addition, individuals with elevated SA are particularly reactive to exclusion if their bodies are visible to others. / Psychology

Body image concerns in Binge Eating Disorder (BED) have been examined almost exclusively in overweight individuals with BED. The current study extends past research by including overweight and normal weight BED and non-BED groups to assess the multifactorial construct of body image using subscales of the Eating Disorder Examination 16.0 (EDE-16.0) and a Body Comparison Task. Independent of weight status and when controlling for age and race, women with BED are distinguished from those without BED by significantly greater overvaluation of shape and weight on the EDE -16.0 and significantly reduced weight satisfaction after a Body Comparison Task. Both BED diagnosis and weight status were independently associated with weight and shape concern subscales on the EDE-16.0. Taken together, these data provide further support for the consideration of body image concerns in the diagnostic criteria for BED. / Psychology

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Yes / Research Question: To assess the feasibility of the MGSIS-5and G3L-20 in a community sample of cisgender men aged 40 years and older Research problem: Psychometric measures can aid urologic practice by prompting patients to talk about aspects of their body that are either too sensitive or a natural part of aging. Importantly, reliable and valid measures can also contribute to a an evidenced-based-practice-based-evidence cycle where they can establish the impact of changes recommended by research while using the results in turn to inform research. In this study, we examine two psychometric measures on the opposite ends of a psychological-physical continuum; the Male Genital Self-Image Scale (MGSIS-5) and the Groin and Lower Limb Lymphedema questionnaire (G3L-20) Methodology: Non-experimental psychometric design administering the questionnaires online to a community sample of cisgender men aged 40 years old and above. Validity and reliability analyses were conducted. Results: 30 men completed the study; 14 aged 40-49, 14 aged 50-59 and 2 aged 60-69. The MGSIS-5 and G3L-20 show acceptable reliability and validity with one- and three-component structures respectively. Conclusions: The MGSIS-5 and G3L-20 show sufficient feasibility to justify the resources for studies with larger community samples and for pilot studies with clinical populations.

The purpose of this study was to collect exploratory data on dietary acculturation, physical activity, and body image in a limited resource Latina population in northern Virginia. Acculturation may be described as a process in which members of one cultural group adopt the beliefs and behaviors of another group. Acculturation has been associated with a variety changes in terms of diet, physical activity and body image. Most dietary acculturation research in the U.S. has focused on Mexican Americans, Cuban Americans, and Puerto Ricans; however this study was composed of mostly Central and South Americans. Eighty-five subjects were recruited from the Arlington County Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program, Arlington County Women, Infants, and Children program, and the Fairfax County Parklawn Family Center. Demographic information, acculturation, fruit and vegetable intake, saturated fat avoidance, physical activity, and body image were assessed with written survey instruments. The results indicated that this Latina population with limited resources in northern Virginia was mainly from Bolivia and El Salvador, and was not highly acculturated. Almost half of the participants were overweight or obese. About 50% of the population met the 5-A-Day goal for fruit and vegetable intake and almost 95% of participants exhibited at least one form of saturated fat avoidance. Eighty-five percent of the population reported participating in 30 minutes or more leisure-time physical activity less than 3 times each week, though a similar percentage reported that physical activity was important for health. Sixty percent of respondents were on a weight loss diet. While there was a significant relationship between the number of servings of fruit consumed and acculturation, there was no significant relationship between acculturation and any other dietary, physical activity or body image factor measured. The results of this study provide a baseline for further research in the limited resource Latina population in northern Virginia. / Master of Science

Implicit theories are frameworks that allow an individual to conceptualize the world (Levy, Chiu, & Hong, 2006; Plaks, Levy, & Dweck, 2009). Incremental implicit theories assert humans as dynamic entities, capable of change, whereas entity implicit theories assert that humans are rigid, static, and incapable of change (Dweck, 1999). The present study examined entity and incremental themes in parent child discourse about weight related health decisions. Incremental themes are expected to be related to better pediatric health outcomes (BMI, physical activity, diet, and body image). A moderation model is proposed whereby links between parent child discourse and pediatric health outcomes, specifically body image, will be stronger for boys than girls. Moderation by sex was expected because parents may communicate differently to their children as a function of sex. Cultural ideals have much more stringent evaluations of women than men do and this may be reflected in communications involving parents and children. There were no significant mean-level differences in body image scores and parents' use of entity and incremental themes according to child sex. Additionally, parents use of entity and incremental themes did not predict any of the children's health-related outcomes. These results may indicate that child sex may not be the best predictor of parents' communications concerning children's weight-related decisions. / Master of Science

Equivocal results for imagery as a beneficial adjunct to performance may be due to diverse methodologies as well as a lack of clarity about the relationship between imagery ability and imagery perspective. This study used a randomized group design with repeated measures to evaluate the effect of imagery content and perspective on strength. Subjects were 44 women, ages 19 to 34, classified as beginning weight lifters. All were pre-tested on imagery ability and knee joint strength. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of three training conditions: (1) an internal imagery perspective; (2) an external imagery perspective, and (3) no imagery training. Training was conducted twice per week for eight weeks. Subjects were also asked to work out a third time. The dependent measure to assess strength at the beginning, middle, and end of the eight-weeks was the Cybex II dynamometer. The dependent measure to assess imagery vividness was the Betts questionnaire Upon Mental Imagery. Imagery perspective was measured by the Imagination Exercise. Results of a two-way analysis of variance with repeated measures using Cybex II found significant strength differences for: (1) all groups and (2) the internal imagery group. A significant linear trend was also found between groups. Additionally, a two-way analysis of variance with repeated measures, using imagery ratings found significant improvement in kinesthetic vividness for all groups. This investigation is the first experimental study using beginning athletes to demonstrate significant performance effects using mental training above and beyond significant effects due to physical training. / Master of Science

Now Watch This is exactly what its title expresses it to be. It's a call for attention, a summons for your eyes. More specifically, it's an in-progress novel set from the 1990s to the current year, 2024. It's the story of a millennial named Junior Pena. A man who's like that one smirky friend who nudges you before attempting a dangerous and/or questionable act—or maybe just an idiotic feat. It's narrated from Junior's point of view, with a voice that aims to be literary, colloquial, Californian, and Latino. In its pages, he searches the network of his memories for his formative trauma and discovers a critical source in a small Mexican pueblo in the 1970s. It's one man's attempt to cleanse himself and forgive all who've wronged him by confessing to the things that shame him. It's an examination of shame and its consequences. It's a deconstruction of self, masculinity, language, family, identity, sex, class, body image, and some other stuff too. But most importantly, it's a document of healing, an example of one man's honest attempt to heal himself with the instruments of memory and language. / Master of Fine Arts / Now Watch This is a novel in progress.

Differences between two groups of 25 college women, a weight-preoccupied group (WP) and a not-weight-preoccupied control group (NWP), were investigated. The groups differed only with respect to scores on the Drive for Thinness subscale of the Eating Disorder Inventory; they were matched for age, race, social class, and dissatisfaction with present weight. All subjects: completed questionnaires measuring social self-esteem and tendency to use potentially-dangerous weight-loss methods; were weighed and measured for height; and were photographed in form-fitting clothing. Silhouettes were constructed which were used in body-image tasks: subjects modified their outlines to provide "perceived," "desired," and "ideal" body images. Results revealed no significant group differences with respect to body weight or Body Mass Index. However, there was more variability among WP subjects: all 25 NWP, but only 17 WP, subjects were within 10% of their ideal weight. The WP subjects had experienced a more dramatic weight gain during adolescence. They had a significantly greater tendency to use potentially-dangerous dieting methods and to report a "desired" body image that was extremely thin. On average, the "desired" image was 86.69% of the "actual" image for the WP subjects; it was 93.45% of the actual for the NWP subjects. It is suggested that weight-preoccupation may be due to: a tendency toward overweight, and/or a drastic adolescent weight gain, and/or low body-related self-esteem. It is also suggested that the tendency of WP subjects to use potentially-dangerous dieting methods and to express infeasible weight-loss goals verifies their need for specialized weight-control counseling. / M.S.