Eating disorders were predominantly perceived to be a white, Western higher socioeconomic phenomenon. However, as Western cultural values have been embraced, eating disorders appear to have become prevalent across racial, ethnic and socio-economic groups. In the last decade there has been an increased interest in assessing eating disorders from a cross-cultural perspective. Many studies have been conducted in the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Relatively few empirical studies have been conducted in South Africa. The Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI) is an instrument that has been used in eating disorder research and is known to be reliable and valid. Although the EDI has been used in South Africa, its cross-cultural validity has not yet been determined. The purpose of this research is a pilot cross-cultural validation of the EDI to determine if this design would be appropriate for a large-scale validation project. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg,2004.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1988.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1988.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of North Carolina Wilmington, 2009. / Title from PDF title page (January 13, 2010) Includes bibliographical references (p. 42-52)

by Tso Chi Wai. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 91-96). / Abstract also in Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / Acknowledgments --- p.ii / Table of Contents --- p.iii / List of Tables --- p.v / List of Appendices --- p.vii / Introduction --- p.1 / Assessment tools --- p.2 / Development of the EDI --- p.2 / Psychometric properties of the EDI --- p.5 / Reliability --- p.5 / Test-retest reliability --- p.9 / Validity --- p.9 / Factor structure of EDI-1 --- p.14 / Factor analysis of EDI-2 --- p.17 / Normative Data --- p.18 / Cross-cultural studies --- p.19 / Purpose of the study --- p.21 / Method --- p.23 / Participants --- p.23 / Measures --- p.23 / Procedures --- p.25 / Results --- p.26 / Response rate and missing data --- p.26 / Normative data --- p.26 / Differentiating utility --- p.41 / Reliability --- p.45 / Item-total correlational analysis --- p.48 / Subscale intercorrelations --- p.53 / Factor analysis of EDI-1 --- p.55 / Factor analysis of EDI-2 --- p.72 / Correlation between EDI and ESC-21 --- p.78 / Discussion --- p.80 / Normative data and differentiating utility of EDI --- p.80 / Distribution of scores --- p.83 / Differentiating Utilities --- p.83 / Reliability --- p.85 / Factor analysis --- p.86 / Conclusion --- p.88 / Limitations --- p.89 / Implication for Future Studies --- p.90 / References --- p.91 / Appendices / Questionnaire for the study --- p.97

There is growing concern for eating pathology and body dissatisfaction in sports; particularly, in sports that emphasize a lean body type. In 325 female collegiate swimmers/divers and gymnasts, we examined psychosocial well-being (i.e., perception of weight pressures, levels of internalization, body satisfaction, dietary intent, negative affect) at the beginning and end of an athletic season and predict their eating disorder classification at the end of their athletic season. Logistic regressions revealed that a model containing all 14 predictors at the beginning and end of an athletic season significantly predicted eating disorder classification at the end of an athletic season. Specifically, in the longitudinal logistic regression, with every one unit of increase on a measure of the pressure felt within the sport environment regarding their weight and every unit increase on a measure of their intentions to diet, respectively, the female athletes were 49% and 89% more likely to be classified in the subclinical/clinical group at the end of their sport season. Surprisingly, with every one unit of increase on a measure of sociocultural pressure to exercise, female athletes were 43% less likely to be classified in the subclinical/clinical group six months later. The cross-sectional logistic regression found that only dietary restraint was significant. Specifically, with every one unit of increase on a measure of their intentions to diet the female athletes were 3.6 times more likely to be classified in the subclinical/clinical group at the end of their sport season. The implications of this study may emphasize the importance of body healthy sport systems to reduce sport specific pressures and dieting among female collegiate athletes. Limitations of this study include self-report measures and longitudinal timeframe was only across one athletic season.

Though Cognitive Remediation Therapy (CRT) for anorexia nervosa shows promising evidence, questions remain regarding specific mechanisms of change. This mixed methods study aimed to explore both longitudinal patient data (neuropsychological and self-report measures, before and after CRT) and therapist experiences of delivering CRT and their perceptions regarding what it offers. All patients had received treatment in a specialist inpatient unit. Complete data were available for both individual (n=56) and group (n=43) CRT; clinical audit data were also available. Semi-structured interviews of 11 therapists were analysed using Thematic Analysis. Statistically significant improvements were found in cognitive flexibility task performance for individual CRT (medium effect) and in self-reported cognitive flexibility for group CRT (medium effect). Three main themes were identified from the therapist interviews: “Anorexia and its treatment”, “CRT - its characteristics and delivery” and “CRT and its effectiveness”. The quantitative findings replicated some previous results and the therapist interviews provided insights regarding not only CRT’s delivery but adaptations made according to individual need and complexity. Both individual and group CRT appear to be feasible interventions for future trials but questions remain around CRT’s specific effects. Recommendations are made for future research studies on this complex intervention.

Aims: Friendship plays an important and central role in adolescent life. This thesis was conducted in two parts to address two broad aims relating to friendship in adolescence. The first aim was to establish what is currently known about the impact of perfectionism on adolescent interpersonal relationships. Specifically, it was of interest to determine whether perfectionism exerts a negative influence on adolescent friendships. The second aim was to explore the friendship experiences of adolescents diagnosed with an eating disorder (ED) in order to address a significant gap in the current literature. Method: A systematic review of the literature relating to perfectionism and interpersonal functioning in adolescence was carried out with a view to addressing the first aim. With regards to the second aim a grounded theory study was conducted with adolescents currently in treatment for an eating disorder. The young people were asked about their experiences of friendship and emerging concepts were followed up in a concurrent process of data collection and analysis. Results: The systematic review highlighted an absence of research on interpersonal functioning and perfectionism in adolescence, with only seven studies identified that met inclusion criteria. The results were further complicated by inconsistencies in the conceptualisation of perfectionism in the identified studies. The empirical study uncovered the efforts that adolescents go to to achieve acceptance in their friendships. It also revealed that the development of an ED is experienced as creating distance in adolescent friendships. This affects both the actual amount of time that young people spend with their friends as well as the emotional connection that they are able to feel in their friendships. Conclusions: There is a need to reconsider the conceptualisation of perfectionism in future research with a consistent acknowledgement of the interpersonal dimensions of the concept. It is important to acknowledge the significant impact that ED development can have on adolescent relationships. Young people may require support to address these difficulties and preserve their friendships to avoid long term negative consequences.

Evidence from multiple studies suggests that regulation of emotions and intensity of affect may be relevant to understanding disordered eating. Emotion regulation concerns the ways in which emotions are managed in daily life, whereas Affect Intensity (Larsen et al., 1986) refers to individuals‟ typical emotional reactivity. The thesis examines emotion regulation and affect in females with eating pathology (subclinical as well as clinical), and looks at ways dysfunctional regulatory strategies may be improved. The main objective of the present research was to look at the influence of experimentally-induced positive affect on the choice of emotion management strategies. Study 1 looked at typical Affect Intensity and emotion regulation in a sample of subclinically eating-disordered University of Edinburgh students. This study examined functionality of regulatory strategies, typical intensity of affect, and the effects of experimentally induced happiness and sadness on the two. Study 2 introduced the construct of creativity into the discourse on emotions and psychopathology, and looked at creative tendencies in relation to Affect Intensity, emotion regulation and psychopathology (anxiety, depression and sub-clinical eating pathology). Study 3 looked at the effects of Positive Psychology Interventions (PPIs) on emotion regulation, life satisfaction, anxiety and depression in a subclinically eating-disordered group and controls. Studies 4 and 5 were carried out in order to test and extend the results of Studies 1 and 3 with a clinical sample. In Study 4, emotion regulation, Affect Intensity and the immediate post-test effect of happiness on emotion regulation and life satisfaction were examined in females clinically diagnosed with eating disorders (i.e. anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and EDNOS). Study 5 looked at how longitudinal happiness induction influenced emotion regulation, eating behaviours and life satisfaction in eating-disordered individuals. One of the main findings across the studies was that females with subclinical and clinical forms of eating pathology tended to experience negative emotions of high intensity, and used predominantly dysfunctional regulatory strategies to manage them. Another important finding was that experimentally-induced positive emotions improved emotion regulation, and encouraged participants to choose healthier affect management strategies. The studies, their implications and contribution to theory and treatment of eating disorders are discussed.

No description available.