The purpose of this research was to develop and evaluate a 5-week readiness for change precursor to group cognitive-behavioral therapy for individuals with eating disorders. Group content was based on the theories of the Transtheoretical Model of Change and Motivational Interviewing, and also included an experiential pretraining component. Forty-six medically stable individuals with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa or eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS) were recruited from the Adult Eating Disorders Program at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, Canada. Participants completed measures of readiness for change, eating disorder symptomatology, and treatment outcome at three time points: pre- and post-readiness precursor, and post-cognitive-behavioral group. One-way repeated measures analysis of variance, regression analysis, and Cochran’s Q analysis were used to investigate hypotheses. Results revealed that participants’ readiness for change increased significantly following the readiness group. However, despite changes in readiness, stage of change awareness and cognitive-behavioral treatment drop-out rates were not significantly improved. In was concluded that motivational interventions appear to be an effective way to increase readiness for change in the eating disorders, however more research is needed to determine whether increases in readiness have a significant impact on treatment outcome.

Recently researchers have begun investigating the impact of eating disorders on quality of life (QOL). The present study examines the impact of eating disorder psychopathology on QOL within a non-clinical sample. Two hundred and fourteen women completed questionnaires assessing eating disorder symptoms, body dissatisfaction, body checking and body avoidance behaviours and general psychopathology. The results indicated that eating disturbance and body image dissatisfaction were associated with a poorer QOL. In addition, eating disorder psychopathology uniquely predicted QOL above and beyond the variance accounted for by general psychopathology. These results indicate that eating disorder psychopathology is negatively impacting on the lives of women within the community. The results imply that early intervention and detection could reduce the negative impact of eating disorder psychopathology in women's lives and protect individuals with mild eating disorder symptoms from a further reduction in their QOL.

Thesis (M.A.)--York University, 2006. Graduate Programme in Psychology. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 84-101). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:MR19719

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Florida, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 76-83). Also available online (viewed 2/13/08).

Thesis (M.S.)--Eastern Illinois University, 1989. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 56-61).

Thesis (M. P. H.)--University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Also available in print.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Uppsala universitet, 2005. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1991. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 105-112). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Liberty University, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 60-65). Also available via the Internet.