This study involves the development and validation of a measure of physical appearance-related comments, The Verbal Commentary on Physical Appearance Scale (VCOPAS). Previous research has shown that the development of body image and eating disturbances is greatly influenced by teasing and negative appearance-related feedback. The limited research on positive appearance-related feedback is likely due to the lack of an empirically validated scale of positive appearance-related commentary. Consequently, the VCOPAS was developed to assess the frequency and effect of positive appearance-related comments and other types of appearance-related comments. In Study 1, 50 undergraduate female students of ages 18 to 25 completed the revised VCOPAS and 8 of these students also attended a focus group session. The revised VCOPAS and its subscales demonstrated adequate internal consistency. This scale was subsequently modified based on the findings of Study 1. In Study 2, 320 undergraduate female students of ages 18 to 25 completed the VCOPAS. Factor analyses indicated that four factors should be retained. The VCOPAS and its subscales exhibited low to high internal consistencies. Study 3 was a confirmatory factor analysis study that used 246 undergraduate female students of ages 18 to 25. An exploratory factor analysis was also conducted to cross-validate the VCOPAS with a new sample. Given the importance of interpretability and theory in scale development, a four-factor model was retained for the final VCOPAS. The final VCOPAS consists of 26 items and contains four subscales (Negative Appearance, Positive Body, Positive General Appearance, and Exercise Commentary). The total scale and subscales demonstrated adequate internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Significant correlations were found between a number of VCOPAS subscales and measures of physical appearance-related feedback, body image disturbance, self-objectification, and self-esteem. Regression analyses indicated the utility of the Negative Appearance, Positive Body, and Positive General Appearance subscales in predicting body image disturbance. It seems that different types of appearance-related commentary influence the body image of females in distinct ways. The VCOPAS is likely to be useful in future research examining the role of appearance-related commentary, specifically positive appearance-related commentary, in the development of body image and eating disturbances among females.

This thesis argues that although the anorexic patient is subjugated in the medical encounter, subjects find ways to resist and disrupt this subversion. The analysis is largely based on life history interviews with teenage girls with a medical diagnosis of anorexia. Other data sources include interview field-notes, my research journal and selected popular magazines. The data was analysed using a discourse analytic methodology to explore how girls constituted hospitalisation, anorexia, doctors and patients, among other issues. The analysis draws on insights from poststructuralist theory. In the earlier chapters, an analysis of the complex medical, psychological and feminist theories of anorexia nervosa; and a description of the hospitals where girls are treated is developed to situate the study in its socio-historical context. The analysis consists of three main arguments. The first is that clinical notions of food, eating and embodiment are in direct contrast to social discourses on these topics. Girls draw on this discrepancy in their resistance to hospital practices. The second argument is that girls are aware they are positioned as irrational because of their malnourished state and are also aware that if they blatantly resist treatment they will be subjected to further surveillance. Girls take up medical discourses in different ways and to different effects in constituting themselves as agenetic subjects. The third argument focuses on the shifting construction of the anorexia subject in the clinic. Although discourses of anorexia and psychiatry have a powerful impact on the girls; girls resist these positionings, finding other ways to constitute themselves. The contention of this thesis is that clinical constructions of anorexia work to form the subject and provide the possibilities for the creation of other subjectivities. On the basis of this research, some suggestions for how inpatient treatment regimes may work differently are provided. / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

This study is a critical, feminist psychological investigation of nurses’ experiences, understandings and perceptions of nursing eating disorder patients. Specifically 19 in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted at a large metropolitan Australian hospital complex with nurses who care for eating disordered patients. A qualitative discourse analytic methodology was used to analyse the data. The analysis investigates the different ways that the eating disorder patients and the nurses are constituted in a web of explicit and implicit discursive constructions and discursive practices. The analysis also considers how relations of power between the nurses, the patients and the doctors and other health care workers are constituted in discourse and practice, as well as exploring how the eating disorder patient group and the role of the nurse is feminised / Master of Arts (Hons)

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / University students are known to have a high prevalence of body dissatisfaction, dieting and disordered eating and exercise behaviours. Those enrolled in food and exercise related degree areas have been found to be particularly vulnerable. Part 1 of this study compared the body image, body dissatisfaction, dieting, disordered eating and exercise behaviours of first year male and female trainee physical education [PE; N = 295] teachers and undergraduates enrolled in non food and exercise related degree areas [Non PE; N = 207]. Male and female PE participants had a lower body image and higher body dissatisfaction and were significantly more likely to be dieting and engaging in disordered eating behaviours than Non PE participants. These findings provide empirical evidence of anecdotal suspicions that trainee physical education teachers are susceptible to body image problems and eating disorders; and create a demand for for intervention programs to improve the body image, body dissatisfaction, dieting and disordered eating and exercise behaviours of this population. Part 2 of this study involved the development of a dissonance and self esteem based (Intervention 1) and a dissonance, and media literacy based intervention that built self esteem and used computer technologies (Intervention 2) to be implemented into trainee physical education teachers’ [N= 170] undergraduate training. Both interventions were successful in improving the body image, and disordered eating behaviours of trainee PE teachers compared to a control group; which suggests that the inclusion of intervention programs in trainee teacher’s undergraduate training is both feasible and effective. Further research should investigate the effects of intervention programs to improve body image and eating behaviours among trainee physical education teachers; and male university students. The development of standardised measures and approaches toward the improvement of body image, body dissatisfaction and disordered eating and exercise behaviours that are specifically designed for males is also encouraged.

This thesis, which includes a dual case study, explores the clinical use of art therapy with women with eating issues from a feminist perspective. It provides a critique of the existing art therapy literature, and suggests alternative approaches which may be incorporated into an art therapy intervention, to increase its relevance to this client group. It demonstrates the need for flexibility and creativity on the part of the art therapist, particularly with regard to the provision of structure and containment. It offers an example of qualitative research methods which were easily incorporated into clinical practice, as a means to introducing clients’ voices into art therapy narratives as well as evaluating practice. These research methods are suggested for future art therapy research projects. This study found that a short term feminist informed art therapy intervention was able to meet its goals of increasing clients’ self awareness and insight into their eating issues. The use of art therapy was found to be one of the strategies which contributed to the success of this intervention. Other important aspects included: the adoption of a feminist model; the use of journalling; a flexible approach; a concern with what lay beneath the eating issue; and a focus on self-care and nurture. / Master of Arts (Hons) (Art Therapy)

<p>Spiseforstyrrelser og fysisk aktivitet i ikke-kliniske utvalg</p><p>Hovedmålsetningen med avhandlingen var å studere spiseforstyrrelser og fysisk aktivitet i ulike ikke-kliniske utvalg. Det første steget omfattet mulige relasjoner mellom skårer på treningsavhengighet, fysisk aktivitet, og kjønn, mens det andre steget inkluderte screening av spiseforstyrrelser, samt aspekter av forstyrret spiseadferd og deres forhold til fysisk aktivitet, personlighetstrekk, kjønn og alder.</p><p>Studien viste med Artikkel I at kvinner som trener mange timer i uken skilte seg tydelig fra kvinner som trente få timer i uken når det gjaldt skårer på treningsavhengighet. Artikkel II viste kjønnsforskjeller i motivasjon til å drive fysisk aktivitet. Høye skårer på treningsavhengighet var ikke mer vanlig blant menn. I Artikkel III ble det funnet at forstyrret spiseadferd ikke er sterkt relatert til det å trene mange timer i uken. Videre viste resultatene at både kvinner og menn med høye skårer på forstyrret spiseadferd har mange felles personlighetstrekk. Resultatene i Artikkel IV viste generelt relativt høy prevalens av forstyrret spiseadferd blant 14-15-årige gutter. Både blant jenter og gutter ble det funnet høye tall på uspesifikke spiseforstyrrelser. Artikkel V sammenliknet to måleinstrumenters evne til å screene menn med spiseforstyrrelser. De to instrumentene stemte til en viss grad overens, men resultatene indikerte behovet for videre studier med kliniske utvalg for å validere EDI mot SEDs. Målsetningen med Artikkel VI var å studere utløsende faktorer relatert til episoder med overspising blant kvinner, samt konsekvenser av overspising. Resultatene viste at faktorer knyttet til start og stopp av overspising ser ut i stor grad å være av emosjonell og fysiologisk art. Relatert til forebygging og behandling vil Artikkel VI kunne bidra med viktige elementer i forhold til self-management strategier blant pasienter.</p><p>Denne avhandlingen kan være et bidrag til en bedre forståelse av det kompliserte forholdet mellom fysisk aktivitet, forstyrret spiseadferd, personlighetstrekk og kjønn i befolkningen.</p>

Thesis (M.A. (Voorligtingpsigologie)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Spiseforstyrrelser og fysisk aktivitet i ikke-kliniske utvalg Hovedmålsetningen med avhandlingen var å studere spiseforstyrrelser og fysisk aktivitet i ulike ikke-kliniske utvalg. Det første steget omfattet mulige relasjoner mellom skårer på treningsavhengighet, fysisk aktivitet, og kjønn, mens det andre steget inkluderte screening av spiseforstyrrelser, samt aspekter av forstyrret spiseadferd og deres forhold til fysisk aktivitet, personlighetstrekk, kjønn og alder. Studien viste med Artikkel I at kvinner som trener mange timer i uken skilte seg tydelig fra kvinner som trente få timer i uken når det gjaldt skårer på treningsavhengighet. Artikkel II viste kjønnsforskjeller i motivasjon til å drive fysisk aktivitet. Høye skårer på treningsavhengighet var ikke mer vanlig blant menn. I Artikkel III ble det funnet at forstyrret spiseadferd ikke er sterkt relatert til det å trene mange timer i uken. Videre viste resultatene at både kvinner og menn med høye skårer på forstyrret spiseadferd har mange felles personlighetstrekk. Resultatene i Artikkel IV viste generelt relativt høy prevalens av forstyrret spiseadferd blant 14-15-årige gutter. Både blant jenter og gutter ble det funnet høye tall på uspesifikke spiseforstyrrelser. Artikkel V sammenliknet to måleinstrumenters evne til å screene menn med spiseforstyrrelser. De to instrumentene stemte til en viss grad overens, men resultatene indikerte behovet for videre studier med kliniske utvalg for å validere EDI mot SEDs. Målsetningen med Artikkel VI var å studere utløsende faktorer relatert til episoder med overspising blant kvinner, samt konsekvenser av overspising. Resultatene viste at faktorer knyttet til start og stopp av overspising ser ut i stor grad å være av emosjonell og fysiologisk art. Relatert til forebygging og behandling vil Artikkel VI kunne bidra med viktige elementer i forhold til self-management strategier blant pasienter. Denne avhandlingen kan være et bidrag til en bedre forståelse av det kompliserte forholdet mellom fysisk aktivitet, forstyrret spiseadferd, personlighetstrekk og kjønn i befolkningen.

This research explores the controversial nature of the pro-anorexia (pro-ana) websites. While previous studies have been conducted on the nature of these websites, it is essential to uncover the motivating factors behind maintaining a pro-ana identity. The purpose of my research is two-fold; a) uncover the definition of the idealized female body within the pro-ana websites, drawing connections between the idealized female body as conceptualized within our current society, and within the pro-ana websites; b) to demonstrate the core values held by pro-ana users that enable them to pursue their goal of achieving the idealized female body. <p> The theoretical framework for this thesis is based upon the work of feminist scholar Susan Bordo. Specifically, her analysis of the idealized female body within Western culture acted as the lens through which pro-ana websites were examined. A five step critical discourse analysis approach put forth by Norman Fairclough was implemented to guide the research and data analysis. Textual data was collected from three different pro-ana websites over the period of one week. In addition to discourse analysis, a brief content analysis was used to distinguish the common themes of posting topics. <p> From the results of the content analysis, the definition of the idealized female body according to the pro-ana users was created. In addition, the three underlying values held by pro-ana users during their pursuit of the idealized body -- discipline, self-surveillance and drive emerged from the data collection and analysis. It is important to distinguish that an underlying need to maintain constant control is present. <p> As the existing literature on this topic is still undergoing development, the results of this study offer key insights into the underlying motivations of those users found within pro-ana websites. It is clear that further research is needed in order to distinguish new and desperately needed approaches to treating eating disorders as they are only becoming more prevalent within society.

The purpose of this study was to explore protective factors that help women resist societal pressures for thinness. The present study used a qualitative life history methodology to examine the experiences of women who identified themselves as resilient to pressures to be thin and as liking their bodies regardless of size. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 women, ages 18 to 25, representing diverse social and ethno-cultural backgrounds and body physiques. In the interviews, the participants were inquired about their experiences related to anything they felt was helpful for them in developing a positive body image from childhood, adolescence, and to present day. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed for themes using constructivist grounded theory methodology. Data analysis was informed by the feminist theoretical approach, with attention paid to social and contextual factors. Three core categories emerged from the analysis, which included protective factors associated with participants’ experiences of identity, ways of inhabiting their bodies, and the nature of social influences in their lives. This research highlighted the women’s active role in maintaining a resilient stance in the face of pressures for thinness as well as the importance of social factors that assist them in this process.