No / Lymphoedema secondary to cancer is a relatively neglected and under-researched condition. Few studies report people's experiences of care and treatment provision when living with the condition. Current practice focuses on the physical treatment yet psychosocial needs often remain unmet. A previous study examining the patient perspective identified the theme of being 'abandoned by medicine'. Perceived lack of support may result in a delayed adaptation and acceptance of this long-term condition and can significantly impact on psychological well-being. We explore this emerging theme alongside others in order to provide a guide to action for improvements for patient benefit. The central aim was to explore women's views of their care and treatment following a diagnosis with lymphoedema secondary to cancer. This forms part of a larger study aimed at assessing appropriate screening tools to measure psychosocial distress. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was used for the main study. Here we report the qualitative component, derived from in-depth semi-structured interviews conducted in the homes of the participants (n = 14) and focus group discussions (n = 15). In addition, qualitative comments from questionnaire data from a large-scale postal survey are included (n = 104). Findings: Participants identified considerable deficiencies in health care workers' knowledge and awareness of lymphoedema, which subsequently impacted on the patients' needs for information, support and understanding. Access to appropriate treatment was patchy and problems were identified with the process of obtaining compression garments, massage and other sources of help. Although lymphoedema is a long-term disfiguring condition, and much is known about how this impacts on patients' emotional well-being, little attention was paid by health professionals to potential psychosocial consequences. In essence women had to become experts of their own condition and cope as best as they could. We provide recommendations to improve service delivery and address these unmet needs.

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.

Previous research has shown that appearance-related pressures from multiple sources can influence body esteem in emerging adults. Furthermore, research has shown that self-compassion and gender play a role in body image and the relation between sociocultural pressures and body esteem. Less research has examined how these variables interact in their association with body esteem in emerging adults. Thus, the current study sought to assess these interactions. Participants (N = 877; 492 women) were primarily White (78.9% for women and 76.4% for men) and ranged in age from 18 to 28 (M = 18.70 for women and 19.10 for men). Participants completed an online survey with measures assessing appearance-related pressures, self-compassion, and body esteem. Results indicated a significant main effect of appearance-pressure from mothers on weight body esteem in women and a significant interaction of maternal appearance-related pressure and self-compassion on appearance body esteem in men.

Previous research suggests a link between identity status (i.e., identity exploration and identity commitment) and body image, evaluation (e.g., body satisfaction) and investment (e.g., the psychological importance one places on one's appearance). The identity statuses include diffused (neither exploration, nor commitment), foreclosed (commitment without exploration), moratorium (exploration, but no commitment), and achieved (exploration and commitment to an identity). While research demonstrates that an association exists between body image, specifically weight preoccupation, and identity development, variations in the adjustment within the identity statuses suggest that other factors may affect this relationship. One such factor is identity distress. The intended purpose of this study is to replicate the findings of Herzog (1997) who found that women in the identity statuses which have not yet committed to an identity (diffused and moratorium) had a significantly higher degree of weight preoccupation than those in the identity statuses who had made identity commitments. The present study also sought to explore whether this same relationship holds for men. It was further hypothesized that women would have less satisfaction with their bodies than men would. A sample of 53 college students with a mean age of26.45 years (S.D. = 7.36 years) completed questionnaires pertaining to identity status, identity distress, and body image. A one-way analysis of variance showed a significant difference between identity status groups on overweight preoccupation with the most preoccupied being those in the moratorium identity status, followed by achievement, diffused, and then foreclosed. However, Scheffe Post Hoc analyses indicated that the only significant difference between groups was between moratoriums and foreclosed (the two extremes). Likewise, males had a significantly higher evaluation of their appearance than women did, confirming the second hypothesis. When looking at the subscales of identity exploration and identity commitment, commitment positively correlated with appearance orientation. Exploration positively correlated with fitness orientation. The average identity distress rating positively correlated to overweight preoccupation, and negatively correlated to appearance evaluation and body areas satisfaction. In regards to a DSM-IV diagnosis for identity problem, 18.9% of the sample qualified. Scores for those who met for identity problem diagnosis were significantly lower in health orientation and body areas satisfaction. The main hypothesis of this paper was that identity variables would be a significant predictor of body image. To test this hypothesis, several multiple regression analyses were calculated with the demographic variables of sex and age entered in the first step, identity status entered in the second step, and average identity distress rating entered on the third step, with each of the body image subscale scores as the dependent variable. Results indicated that the overall model was significant for appearance evaluation, fitness orientation, body areas satisfaction, and overweight preoccupation. Implications of these findings are discussed.

It has only been in recent years that eating disorder researchers have begun focusing on sexual orientation as a variable that may affect prevalence rates. Heeding the call for studies that extend beyond identification of fixed eating disorder risk factors (e.g., gender), this study was designed to explore factors that contribute to the development of disordered eating among lesbians. In this study, a hypothesized Lesbian Model of Disordered Eating was tested using structural equation modeling. Lesbian Sexual Identity and Social Supports were hypothesized to positively influence Psychological Health. In addition, Internalization of U.S. Societal Norms of beauty and attractiveness was hypothesized to negatively affect Psychological Health. Psychological Health, in turn, was hypothesized to negatively influence Body Image Concerns. Body Image Concerns was then hypothesized to positively affect Disordered Eating. The fit of the model was evaluated and one of the hypothesized pathways, Internalization of Norms was moved to directly predict Body Image Concerns. After adjusting the model, the model accounted for 54% of the variance in disordered eating. Most notably, the results highlight the potential affects of adopting a positive lesbian identity on disordered eating and underscore the importance of including sexual identity as a demographic variable in studies of body image and disordered eating. Implications for counseling and directions for future research are discussed.

The Master's Thesis deals with the marketing research of the body image meaning in female and male life style magazines chosen. The main aim is to analyze the advertisement using the quantitative content analysis and to identify the most common elements presented, furthermore to analyse these elements based on the data obtained and to find out the difference of human body presented when female and male are the target groups. The secondary aim is defined as to prepare this analysis for the front-page of magazines chosen as well. The thesis is divided to several parts. The first part deals with the basic theoretical background of marketing communication focused on daily press, next section concentrates on the body image issue and self body feeling. The nature of practical section is the content analysis evaluation, summary of data obtained and drawing a conclusion together with marketing suggestion.

University of Macau / Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities / Department of Psychology

Thesis (Ph. D.)--UCLA, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 148-161).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Duquesne University, 2006. / Title from document title page. Abstract included in electronic submission form. Includes bibliographical references (p. 208-210) and index.

This thesis deals with the topic of body image and bodily dissatisfaction with non-clinical population with a focus on gender aspects. It has two main parts - theoretical and empirical. The theoretical part focuses on the term body image as a psychological concept that is a component of self-concept. For that reason, there is a definition of the overall self-concept and the difference between the real self and the ideal self. This part of the thesis stresses out the theoretical basis of the term. An important part is a chapter describing factors influencing a development of the bodily self-concept that influences the development and extent of bodily dissatisfaction. I talk about the current western society and its high standards on a physical appearance for both men and women. The thesis then deals with possible consequences of this dissatisfaction on human behavior, again with respect to the gender differences. The thesis also mentions human sexuality that is related to one's relationship with their own body. In the end of the theoretical part there are some possibilities for measuring body image and bodily dissatisfaction outlined. The empirical part consists of a quantitative study called " Gender aspects of Body image and body dissatisfaction in nonclinical population", just like the whole...