The first aim of this study was to develop a research based, integrated, secondary prevention programme, called the Weight Over-concern and Well-being (WOW) programme, for the reduction of Subclinical Eating Disorder (SED) symptoms, associated traits and negative mood states, and the promotion of psychological well-being (PWB) in female students. Consequently the second aim was to determine the effectiveness of the WOW-programme on its own, in comparison with a combined Tomatis Method of sound stimulation (Tomatis, 1990) and WOW-programme, regarding the reduction of SED-symptoms, associated traits and negative mood states; the promotion of PWB; and outcome maintenance. The last aim was to obtain a deeper understanding and "insiders' perspective" of the lived experience of SED, through an interpretative phenomenological inquiry (Smith & Osborn, 2003). The motivation for the current study is a need for research based, integrated, risk-protective, secondary prevention programmes from a social-developmental perspective for female university students (Garner, 2004; Phelps, Sapia, Nathanson & Nelson, 2000; Polivy & Herman, 2002), given their risk status (Edwards & Moldan, 2004; Senekal, Steyn, Mashego & Nel, 2001; Wassenaar, Le Grange, Winship & Lachenicht, 2000). Concurrently in-depth descriptions from an "insiders' perspective" on the lived experience of SED are non-existent and require interpretative phenomenological study (Brocki & Wearden, 2006). Consequently this thesis consists of three articles, namely: (i) Development of a secondary prevention programme for female university students with Subclinical Eating Disorder, (ii) A secondary prevention programme for female students with Subclinical Eating Disorder: a comparative evaluation; and (iii) Lived experiences of Subclinical Eating Disorder: female students' perceptions. The research context comprised Subclinical Eating Disorder, secondary prevention and Positive Psychology. The first article, Development of a secondary prevention programme for female university students with Subclinical Eating Disorder (Kirsten, Du Plessis & Du Toit, 2007a), is qualitative in nature, and narrates a process of participatory action research followed to develop the WOW-programme. This social process of knowledge construction, embedded in Social Constructivist theory (Koch, Selim & Kralik, 2002), gradually revealed best clinical practice, and in retrospect, evolved over four phases. Phase One comprised experiential learning based on personal experiences with SED as undergraduate student and interaction with "participant researchers" as scientist practitioner (Strieker, 2002), resulting in a provisional risk model of intervention. Phase Two, a formal pilot study (Du Plessis, Vermeulen & Kirsten, 2004), afforded an evaluation of ideas generated in Phase One through a three-group pre-post-test design. Outcomes of Phase Two informed Phase Three, an integration of prior learning with Positive Psychology theory and clinical practice, resulting in a risk-protective model of prevention. Theoretical assumptions previously constructed were integrated and operationalised during Phase Four, into the final 9-session WOW-programme. In conclusion the process of knowledge construction was rigorous, despite the small overall sample size (n=28), since data saturation occurred within that sample. Although the multitude of aims involved in each session of the WOW-programme could be seen as unrealistic, in some direct or indirect way, they were addressed by means of relevant interventions due to the integrative approach. Thus future refinement is essential. Finally, despite aforementioned concerns, the WOW-programme proved to be robust on its own in reducing SED-symptoms and associated traits and enhancing PWB, as described in the second article of this thesis. The second article, A secondary prevention programme for female students with Subclinical Eating Disorder: a comparative evaluation (Kirsten, Du Plessis & Du Toit, 2007b), describes the outcomes of the WOW-programme on its own, evaluated comparatively with a combined Tomatis sound stimulation and WOW-programme. In this article the research aims were to determine: (i) whether participation in the combined sound stimulation and WOW-programme (Group 1); and (ii) participation in a WOW-programme only (Group 2), would lead to statistically significant reductions in SED-symptoms, psychological traits associated with eating disorders and negative mood states, and enhancement of PWB; (iii) whether results of Groups 1 and 2 would exceed results of a non-intervention control group (Group 3) practically significantly; and (iv) whether programme outcomes for Groups 1 and 2 would be retained at four-month follow-up evaluation. A mixed method design (Creswell, 2003; Morse, 2003) was used, including a three-group pre-post-test (n=45) and multiple case study (n=30) design. Various questionnaires measuring SED-symptoms, associated traits, negative mood states and PWB were completed. Qualitative data were obtained by means of metaphor drawings, letters to and from the "SED-problem", focus group interviews, the researchers' reflective field notes and individual semi-structured feedback questionnaires (Morse, 2003). Participation in Groups 1 and 2 proved effective, since decreases in SED-symptoms, associated traits, most negative mood states, and increases in PWB differed practically significantly from the results of Group 3. Outcomes for Groups 1 and 2 were maintained at four-month follow-up evaluation. Qualitative findings provided depth, support and trustworthiness to quantitative findings in light of the small sample size, and highlighted the value of using a mixed method design in prevention programming. It was concluded that the WOW-programme on its own, was an effective secondary prevention programme, since it led to reduced SED-symptoms, associated psychological traits and enhanced PWB, with retention of gains at four-months follow-up evaluation. The combined programme involving Tomatis stimulation and WOW-intervention proved to be even more effective, thus the complimentary role of Tomatis stimulation was demonstrated. However, the cost-effectiveness and comparative brevity of the WOW-programme rendered it the programme of choice regarding individuals with SED. Findings showed that conceptually, pathogenic and salutogenic perspectives can be successfully combined into a risk-protective model of secondary prevention. Lastly, the WOW-programme may even prove useful as an enrichment programme for female students in general. The third article, Lived experiences of Subclinical Eating Disorder: female students' perceptions (Kirsten, Du Plessis & Du Toit, 2007c), provides a qualitative, in-depth perspective on the lived experience of SED of 30 white, undergraduate females, purposively sampled. In this interpretative phenomenological, multiple case study (Brocki & Wearden, 2006), Groups 1 and 2 of the aforementioned primary study in the second article were used, since they fitted the criteria of "good informants" and were able to answer the research question (Morse, 2003). Further sampling was deemed unnecessary since data saturation occurred within their written and verbal responses and no negative cases were found. Rich individual qualitative data, further clarified through focus groups, emerged from graphic colour representations of lived SED, explanatory written records and "correspondence" with and from their "SED problem" (Gilligan, 2000; Loock, Myburgh, & Poggenpoel, 2003; White & Epston, 1990). Four main categories, characterised by serious intra-, interpersonal, existential and body image concerns were subdivided into seven subcategories, namely: Personal Brokenness, Personal Shame, Perceived Personal Inadequacy and Enslavement, Existential Vacuum, Perceived Social Pressure, Perceived Social Isolation and Body-image Dysfunction. Results were indicative of underestimation of SED-severity, its comprehensive detrimental impact on participants' PWB and high risk for escalation into full-blown eating disorders. It was concluded that the lived experiences of SED depicted the severity of SED-symptoms; descriptions resonated well with most of their pre-programme mean scores; and their risk status and need for contextually and developmentally relevant secondary prevention programmes were highlighted by the findings. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Sociocultural models of body dissatisfaction implicate mass media exposure as contributing to body dissatisfaction through thin-ideal internalization and social comparison. Compared with other media types, social media are newer, more rapidly evolving, and less thoroughly researched. Existing research, which has focused on teen and young adult samples, suggests that social media also negatively influence body dissatisfaction. The current study used focus groups to explore the nature and impact of social media use on body dissatisfaction in an early adolescent female sample. Girls in this sample displayed high levels of media literacy and confidence, characteristics they felt were nurtured by positive parental influences and a supportive school environment. The results of this study support the recommendation of body image experts that an ecological approach is optimal for the prevention of body dissatisfaction and eating disorders. Though peer influence gains strength through adolescence, these results demonstrate that parents and schools continue to have important effects on girls’ attitudes and behaviors regarding social media and body image.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

Research has identified a relation between exposure to thin-ideal magazine and television media images and eating disorder pathology. However, few studies have examined the potential influence of Internet media on eating disorder behaviors and attitudes. This study investigated the associations among appearance-orientated media exposure, body dissatisfaction, eating pathology and thin-ideal internalization in a sample of 421 female undergraduate students. Results indicate that undergraduate women spend significantly more time viewing appearance-oriented sources online, rather than reading appearance-orientated magazines. Appearance-oriented Internet consumption was also more strongly associated with eating disorder pathology than was use of other media (television and magazines). Relations between appearance-orientated media use (all types) and body dissatisfaction was mediated by thin-ideal internalization. These findings are consistent with those of previous research, and highlight the vulnerability individuals high in thin-ideal internalization might have following media exposure. They also suggest that Internet media might be an important topic to include in eating disorders prevention and treatment.

Eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia nervosa, have profound negative effects on the quality of life of both affected individuals and their families. Behavioral approaches such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) are commonly used for the treatment of these disorders. CBT teaches skills to restructure maladaptive thought patterns as a method of altering feelings and behaviors. However, even after CBT, 50-70% of women with bulimia and 67-87% of women with anorexia report continued eating disordered thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Measuring underlying cognitive processes such as orienting, maintaining, and executive attention in individuals with eating disorder symptomatology might be an important first step in improving these existing therapies. Attentional biases can be identified using a variety of techniques, including eye movement in response to stimuli (gaze patterns; focal points) as assessed by sophisticated eye tracking tasks. The current project sought to evaluate eye movement behavior related to body dissatisfaction, and to assess the feasibility of modifying attention. Participants (N = 1017) completed survey measures assessing disordered eating and body image (n = 1011), and participants meeting eligibility requirements participated in the in-person eye-tracking assessment (n = 85). Overall, longer gaze duration was associated with more dissatisfying body regions, and the attention modification intervention decreased time spent looking at the most dissatisfying region. Gaze time on the most dissatisfying body region was not different for self images compared with other images, nor was there an influence of level of shape concern. Body image anxiety also reduced after the attention modification intervention. These results suggest that it is feasible to modify attention biases related to body dissatisfaction. Implications and future extensions of this study are discussed.

Etude 1 : L’objectif de cette étude était d’étendre la littérature existante en testant un modèle tripartite à deux voies du développement de l’image du corps masculin et des préoccupations alimentaires chez des jeunes hommes français. Le modèle final présentait un bon ajustement aux données et comprenait des voies distinctes de préoccupations musculaires et de préoccupations liées à la masse graisseuse.Etude 2 : L’objectif de cette étude était d’explorer différents profils de recherche de musculature et de minceur chez des jeunes femmes françaises. Le groupe de jeunes femmes avec « recherche de musculature et de minceur » présentait des scores significativement plus élevés pour la pression des amis et du partenaire, l’intérêt pour les médias, l’internalisation de l’idéal mince et tonique, la comparaison de l’apparence, les symptômes boulimiques et un fonctionnement psychologique moins bon.Etude 3 : Le but de cette troisième étude était d’explorer un modèle socioculturel longitudinal de l’influence des médias, des pairs et du partenaire amoureux sur l’insatisfaction corporelle, la recherche de minceur, et la recherche de musculature dans un échantillon de jeunes femmes françaises. Le modèle final présentait un bon ajustement aux données et a montré que les pressions médiatiques et interpersonnelles étaient associées, par le biais de la comparaison de l’apparence, à une augmentation de l’insatisfaction corporelle, de la recherche de minceur et de musculature un an plus tard. / Study 1: The aim of the present study was to extend the extant literature by testing a modified Tripartite dual pathway model of the development of male body image and eating concerns among French young men. The revised and final model was an adequate fit to the data and included separate pathways for muscularity- and leanness-related concerns.Study 2: The aim of this study was to explore different patterns of drive for muscularity and thinness among French young women. The group of young women with “drive for muscularity and thinness” displayed the highest means of friend and partner pressures, interest in the media, thin-and-toned ideal internalization, appearance comparison, bulimic symptoms and the poorest psychological functioning.Study 3: The aim of the current study was to explore a prospective sociocultural model of the influence of media, peer, and partner pressures on body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness, and drive for muscularity in a sample of French young women. The final model presented a good fit to the data, and highlighted that media and interpersonal pressures were associated over time with increased body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness and drive for muscularity one year later, via appearance comparison.

Walden University College of Social and Behavioral Sciences This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Sylvania Ann Jones has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Anthony Perry, Committee Chairperson, Psychology Faculty Dr. Stephen Burgess, Committee Member, Psychology Faculty Dr. James Carroll, University Reviewer, Psychology Faculty Chief Academic Officer Eric Riedel, Ph.D. Walden University 2017 Factors Related to Muscle Dysmorphia Symptomology in Adolescent Males by Sylvania Ann Jones BS, Wayland Baptist University 1999 MA, Wayland Baptist University 2009 MA, Webster University 2006 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Psychology Walden University December 2016 The prevalence of muscle dysmorphia symptomology in adolescent males continues to increase, and yet remains under diagnosed in adolescents, supporting the need for a study to increase the understanding of the factors related to muscle dysmorphia symptomology. The purpose of this quantitative survey research study was to determine variables that predict the muscle dysmorphia symptomology in a nonclinical sample of high school adolescent males. The psycho-behavioral model of muscle dysmorphia was used as the conceptual model to explain the psychological factors such as self-esteem and body dissatisfaction and behavioral factors such as bodybuilding dependence that were hypothesized to be related to muscle dysmorphia. Quantitative surveys included the Body Dysmorphic Examination Self Report, Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Body Building Dependence Scale and a researcher-developed demographic survey. The study participants included a sample of 97 high school males. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the relative strength of the variables in predicting muscle dysmorphia. The results showed that there were several significant predictors of muscle dysmorphia symptomology including race/ethnicity, level of body dissatisfaction, and body building dependence. Sexual orientation and self-esteem were not significant predictors of muscle symptomology. The current study filled the gap in the literature regarding factors that predict muscle dysmorphia among adolescent males. This information supports the development of professional practice and psychoeducational programs designed to assist adolescent males with muscle dysmorphia. This study benefits this cohort by presenting awareness of muscle dysmorphia.

This study explores the association between media exposure and women’s body perceptions in Egypt. The thin ideal perpetuated through the media, eating disorders and body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness were thought to be a culturally linked phenomena confined to Western societies. This study has contributed to the debate on cultural determinism of eating disorders and body dissatisfaction in women as it has shown that these concepts are on the rise in non-Western societies in general and Egypt in specific. When exposed to media messages, women in Egypt demonstrated eating disordered attitudes, body dissatisfaction feelings and also chose other compensatory behaviors such as veiling, fasting, and following diet.

ABSTRACT Numerous studies have examined the development of body image among people, especially girls and young women. Many factors have been associated with the development of body image dissatisfaction. Especially important are exposure to mass media and its relationship with three theoretical constructs: Awareness of a thin ideal, internalization of a thin ideal, and perceived pressures to be thin. Extending existing research, this study examined through experimentation the relationships among exposure to American media content and the awareness and internalization of the American norms and expectations for thinness, pressures to adopt these norms, and Trinidadian female adolescents' body image satisfaction. Based on previous findings, this study hypothesized that the three risk factors in the development of body image disturbance (awareness, internalization and pressures) would mediate the relationship between American media exposure and body image satisfaction among Trinidadian female adolescents. The results indicated that American media exposure and all three risk factors had statistically significant relationships with Trinidadian female adolescents' body image satisfaction. The more hours Trinidadian female adolescents spent watching American sitcoms, the less satisfied they are with their body image. An increase in American media exposure also resulted in the increase in the adolescents' awareness and internalization of the American norms and expectations for thinness, as well as the pressures to adopt those norms and expectations. Results also revealed that the three risk factors in the development of body image disturbance (awareness, internalization and pressures) were negatively correlated with body image satisfaction among Trinidadian female adolescents. Taken as a whole, the study supported the sociocultural model for the development of body image dissatisfaction.

Pastaraisiais metais vis daugiau susirūpinimą kelia prastėjanti merginų sveikta (Forbes ir kt., 2004), o nepasitenkinimas kūnu siejamas su neigiama fizine ir psichine sveikata bei rizikingu elgesiu (dietos naudojimas, badavimas ir kt.), kuris susijęs su valgymo sutrikimų vystimusi, žema saviverte, depresija, savęs žalojimu ir net savižudybėmis. Darbo tikslas - ištirti merginų ir jų motinų tarpusavio santykių sąsajas su nepasitenkinimu kūnu bei motinų naudojamu auklėjimo stiliumi. Tiriamųjų kontingentas ir tyrimo metodai. Tyrime dalyvavo 259 II – IV klasių Zarasų bei Utenos miestų gimnazijų moksleivės bei 259 mergaičių motinos. Atliekant tyrimą, naudotos šios metodikos: kūno formos klausimynas (BSQ), pasitenkinimo kūno dalimis klausimynas (BSS), figūros vertinimo skalė (FRS), požiūrio į santykius su motina skalė (CAM), vaikų auklėjimo stiliaus klausimynas (PSDQ). Tyrimo rezultatai parodė, kad motinų nepasitenkinimas savo kūno dalimis yra susijęs su dukrų nepasitenkinimu savo kūnu, o mergaitės, kurios santykius su motina vertina blogiau yra labiau nepatenkintos savo kūnu, nei mergaitės, kurios santykius vertina geriau. Statistiškai reikšmingų skirtumų tarp motinų nepatenkinimo savo kūnu ir dukros, santykių su motina problemiškumo vertinimo nerasta. Motinos, labiau naudojančios autoritarinį auklėjimo stilių yra labiau nepasitenkinusios savo kūno išvaizda nei motinos, naudojančios mažiau autoritarinį auklėjimo stilių. Motinų naudojamas autoritarinis auklėjimo stilius nėra... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / In recent years, more and more concerned about the worsening girls health (Forbes ir kt., 2004), and body dissatisfaction is associated with negative physical and mental health and risky behavior (the use of diet, fasting, etc.) which is connected with the development eating disorders, low self-esteem, depression, self-mutilation and even suicide. The aim - to explore girls and their mothers relationship connection to interfaces with body dissatisfaction and mother usable educational style. Subjects and methods. The study included 259 girls of II – IV gymnasium classes in Zarasai anr Utena and 259 girls' mother. The study used this technique: the body shape questionnaire (BSQ), satisfaction body questionnaire (BSS), the figure rating scale (FRS), Child's attitude toward mother scale (CAM), The Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire (PSDQ). The results showed that mothers' body parts dissatisfaction is associated with daughter’s body parts dissatisfaction, and girls whose relationship with her mother is worse are more dissatisfied with their bodies, than girls who have beter relationship. Statistically significant differences between mothers bodys dissatisfaction and daughters, relationships with her mother problematic assessment was not found. Mothers who more use an authoritarian parentng style are more disatisfied with appearance than mothers who use less an authoritarian parentng style. Maternal used authoritarian parentng style isn‘t statistically significant... [to full text]