Thesis (Ph. D.)--Brigham Young University. Dept of Counseling Psychology and Special Education, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 63-88).

M.A. / The available research on eating attitudes focuses to a large degree on eating disorders. The literature indicates that psychosocial determinants play a role in the eating attitudes of those individuals who suffer from eating disorders. The eating attitudes of Individuals who do not suffer from eating disorders, however, are also affected by psychosocial determinants. This study sets out to determine which psychosocial determinants play a role in the eating attitudes of a selected student population. After having studied the available literature on the subject, the following factors were identified for inclusion in this research study: self-esteem, boredom, anxiety, depression, stress, HIV/Aids, social factors, family dynamics, interpersonal relationships, anger, guilt, loss of control, fatigue, spiritual factors, and psychological distress. The research reveals the significance of these factors, either on their own or in combination, in shaping the eating attitudes and habits of the selected student population. The study was motivated by modern society’s increasing obsessed with food, eating and dieting, as well as the multidimensional role of food in modern life. It primarily serves as life-sustaining nourishment, but it has adopted multiple social meanings and emotional attachments as well. The study was conducted by designing a questionnaire to derive answers pertaining to the relevance of the respective psychosocial factors to eating attitudes. This questionnaire was distributed among the second year, third year and honours psychology students at RAU. The results indicated that psychosocial factors played a significant role in how and why the sample population ate. Awareness of the influence of these psychosocial determinants may contribute to changing those habits that may not be beneficial to the individual. This information could be applied by health practitioners in various fields of health care, such as psychologists, dieticians and medical practitioners.

submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Educational Psychology at the University of Zululand, 2010. / In this study the researcher wanted to find out if there were more adolescents with eating problems in single-gender or co-educational schools, if there was a specific age group that is more prone to develop a problem with eating and if there were any specific common factors that cause the development of eating problems. The study has been conducted with 200 subjects at four randomly selected high schools and 50 members of the Eating Disorder Support Group of the Westville Hospital in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. Research questionnaires were developed with help of a panel of experts and clinicians in the field of Educational Psychology and two different institutions. Schools were chosen randomly and the principals of the schools, the parents and participants were debriefed and consent was given to conduct the study. Female learners from four (two single-gender and two co-educational) schools were selected with the stratified sampling method. One questionnaire with closed-ended questions was given to the learners of the different high schools and a questionnaire with open-ended questions was given to the members of the Eating Disorder Support Group. The quantitative data was analyzed with the help of the SPSS statistics programme and the Chi-square and linear-by-linear Chi-square correlation test was used to analyse the data. The qualitative data was captured by summarising common specific themes from responses to the open-ended questions. The study confirmed the researcher’s hypothesis that there are more adolescents with eating problems in single-gender schools than in co-educational schools. It was found that the older age group (17-18 years) seemed to be more prone to develop problems with eating. Furthermore, common themes such as low self-esteem, influences from the media, family unit and peers and pressure at school were identified as being reasons for developing eating problems. The research findings were important for the development of prevention and intervention programmes and added information to better understand the development of the problem in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.

Thesis (M. Soc. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 57-67).

No description available.

Introduction: Bariatric surgery (BS) is currently the most effective treatment for morbid obesity. However, many individuals fail to lose or maintain adequate weight loss. It is a challenge to understand why some individuals can make the required changes following BS and some cannot. Evidence suggests that emotional eating (EE) may be associated with poorer outcome. However, there is as yet no conclusive research or review of the research in this area. Method: A systematic review was conducted with the aim to examine how EE relates to BS outcome. This review was complimented by a qualitative research project examining the experiences of individuals following weight loss surgery, with a particular focus on what changes and emotional coping. Results: Systematic review results suggest that EE is associated to poorer weight loss following BS. Six superordinate themes emerged from the qualitative research project; Surgery Outcome, Changing Views of the Self, Coping with Emotions, Being Judged Negatively, Being Obese is a Barrier to Living and It’s a Different Addiction. Discussion The overall results suggest that EE is an ongoing issue following bariatric surgery. BS seems to initiate various changes in behaviour, and cognition, together with increased sense of control. However, such changes seem to be attributed to BS, which is suggestive of an underestimation of self efficacy. Perceptions of obesity being the result of an addiction and emphasis on the difficulties associated with losing weight further highlight the issue of reduced self efficacy. This study also highlights that for many, having surgery does not cure all difficulties associated with eating. There are possibly underlying difficulties associated with obesity, such as neurocircuitry pathways that increase desire for food, whilst reducing control and attachment difficulties that reduce emotion regulation capacity. However, much work is required to understand such explanations and develop appropriate psychological interventions. Conclusion: The overall results from this thesis provide support for the view that EE and associated emotion regulation difficulties are related to poorer BS outcome. What seems clear from this research is that, although BS provides many positive changes, the battle against obesity continues for most and services are currently limited in their resources to intervene.

Thesis (M.Div. with Concentration : Christian Ministries)--Emmanuel School of Religion, 2005. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 76-79).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2008. / 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 August 4, 2009) Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Canterbury, 2007. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 140-159). Also available via the World Wide Web.