Kluczowe znaczenie rozumienia zdrowia dla nawyków żywieniowych: porównania międzygrupowe i analiza korelacji wśród nauczycieli edukacji wczesnoszkolnej i wychowania przedszkolnego oraz studentów tego kierunku

The aim of the study was to assess: (1) differences in eating habits among female students in the context of their professional status, professional activity, place of work, age and declaration that healthy eating is (not) for them one of the five most important criteria of "being healthy ”, (2) the relationship between eating habits and age and seniority among women for whom healthy eating is one of the five most important health criteria as among those for whom it is not so important. The study included variables such as: eating habits, healthy eating as one of the criteria for "being healthy", gender, age, professional status, professional activity, workplace and seniority. The study covered 100 women - 46 students and 54 teachers (field of study: early school education and pre-school education). The Inventory of Health Behaviors was used to conduct the research (IZZ; Juczyński, 2001) - this tool is used to assess health behavior and the List of Health Criteria (LKZ; Juczyński, 2001) - this tool is used to assess how to define health. The statistical analysis carried out pointed to the key role of defining health for eating habits - women who declare that healthy eating is the basic criterion of "being healthy" have significantly better functioning in this context. The only significant correlate of eating habits was age. Moreover, this relationship was only significant among women for whom healthy eating is one of the five most important health criteria. The obtained research results draw attention to the importance of determining teachers' competences in the field of health and didactic skills in promoting it.Celem badania była ocena: (1) różnic w zakresie nawyków żywieniowych wśród studentek i nauczycielek w kontekście ich statusu zawodowego, aktywności zawodowej, miejsca wykonywanej pracy, wieku oraz deklaracji, że zdrowe odżywianie (nie)jest dla nich jednym z pięciu najważniejszych kryteriów „bycia zdrowym”, (2) związków pomiędzy nawykami żywieniowymi a wiekiem i stażem pracy wśród kobiet dla których zdrowe odżywianie jest jednym z pięciu najważniejszych kryteriów zdrowia, jak wśród tych dla których nie jest ono tak istotne. W badaniu uwzględniono takie zmienne jak: nawyki żywieniowe, zdrowe odżywianie jako jedno z kryteriów „bycia zdrowym”, płeć, wiek, status zawodowy, aktywność zawodowa, miejsce pracy oraz staż pracy. Badaniem objęto 100 kobiet – 46 studentek i 54 nauczycielki (kierunek studiów: edukacja wczesnoszkolna i wychowanie przedszkolne). Do przeprowadzenia badań wykorzystano Inwentarz Zachowań Zdrowotnych (IZZ; Juczyński, 2001) – narzędzie to służy do oceny zachowań zdrowotnych oraz Listę Kryteriów Zdrowia (LKZ; Juczyński, 2001) – narzędzie to służy do oceny sposobu definiowania zdrowia. Przeprowadzona analiza statystyczna wskazała na kluczową rolę definiowania zdrowia dla podejmowanych nawyków żywieniowych - istotnie lepszym funkcjonowaniem w tym kontekście charakteryzują się kobiety deklarujące, że zdrowe odżywianie jest dla nich podstawowym kryterium „bycia zdrowym”. Jedynym istotnym korelatem nawyków żywieniowych był wiek. Co więcej, związek ten był istotny tylko wśród kobiet, dla których zdrowe odżywianie jest jednym z pięciu najważniejszych kryteriów zdrowia. Uzyskane wyniki badań zwracają uwagę na to, jak ważne jest określenie kompetencji nauczycieli w zakresie zdrowia oraz umiejętności dydaktycznych w jego promowaniu

COVID-19-Related Stress and Anxiety, Body Mass Index, Eating Disorder Symptomatology, and Body Image in Women from Poland: A Cluster Analysis Approach

To limit the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), many countries have introduced mandated lockdown or social distancing measures. Although these measures may be successful against COVID-19 transmission, the pandemic and attendant restrictions are a source of chronic and severe stress and anxiety which may contribute to the emergence or worsening of symptoms of eating disorders and the development of negative body image. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to: (1) classify different conditions associated with COVID-19-related stress, COVID-19-related anxiety, and weight status; and (2) analyze and compare the severity of dimensions typically related to eating disorders symptomatology and body image in individuals with different COVID-19-related stress, COVID-19-related anxiety, and weight status. Polish women (N = 671, Mage = 32.50 ± 11.38) completed measures of COVID-19-related stress and anxiety along with body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness, and bulimia symptomatology subscales of the Eating Disorders Inventory, and the appearance evaluation, overweight preoccupation, and body areas satisfaction subscales of the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire. The following four clusters were identified through cluster analysis: (a) Cluster 1 (N = 269), healthy body weight and low COVID-related stress (M = 3.06) and anxiety (M = 2.96); (b) Cluster 2 (N = 154), healthy body weight and high COVID-related stress (M = 5.43) and anxiety (M = 5.29); (c) Cluster 3 (N = 127), excess body weight and high COVID-related stress (M = 5.23) and anxiety (M = 5.35); (d) Cluster 4 (N = 121), excess body weight and low COVID-related stress (M = 2.69) and anxiety (M = 2.83). Our results showed that Clusters 3 and 4 had significantly greater body dissatisfaction and lower appearance evaluation and body areas satisfaction than Clusters 1 and 2. Cluster 3 also had a significantly higher level of drive for thinness, bulimia, and overweight preoccupation than Clusters 1 and 2. These preliminary findings may mean that the COVID-19 pandemic and attendant anxiety and stress caused by the pandemic are exacerbating symptoms of eating disorders and negative body image, with women with excess weight particularly at risk

The Role of Body Shame and Age on Appearance-Based Exercise and Positive Body Image in Women from Poland: Preliminary Results of a Cluster Analysis

The aim of this study has been to analyse whether body shame and age may play a role in appearance-based exercise and positive body image in Women from Poland. It was assumed that women with high body shame and at the stage of young adulthood have significantly greater levels of appearance-based exercise and lower positive body image than those with a low level of body shame and at the stage of middle adulthood. The final sample included 234 Polish women (age: M = 31.58, SD = 13.93; body mass index: M = 23.45, SD = 4.72). Participants completed: the Objectified Body Consciousness Scale (OBCS), the Exercise Appearance Motivations Scale (EAMS), the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2) and a socio-demographic survey. The cluster analysis technique indicated four distinct clusters: (a) Cluster 1 (N = 83): high body shame and young adulthood; (b) Cluster 2 (N = 29): high body shame and middle adulthood; (c) Cluster 3 (N = 88): low body shame and young adulthood; (d) Cluster 4 (N = 34): low body shame and middle adulthood. The outcomes partially support the hypothesis, as higher levels of almost all subscales related to appearance-based exercise (EAMS: “muscularity”, “societal pressures”, “shape/weight concerns”, “avoidance/shame”) and lower positive body image (BAS-2) were observed in women with high body shame and at the stage of young adulthood compared with women with a low level of body shame and at the stage of middle adulthood. These results indicate that both body shame and age may contribute to the intensity of appearance-based exercise and positive body image deterioration. Clarity on this issue is essential to ensure that an appropriate preventive activity and interventions are made which will be able to take into account the specific sociocultural context in Poland

Children’s and Mothers’ Perspectives of Problematic Eating Behaviours in Young Children and Adolescents: An Exploratory Study

The aim of this study was to (a) compare children’s perspectives of problematic eating behaviours with those of mothers and (b) check if there are differences in the level of these problematic eating behaviours between girls and boys in different age groups (young children: 8–11 years old vs. adolescents: 12–16 years old). The study involved 203 children (50.74% girls) and 203 mothers. The average age of children was 11.06 years (SD = 2.31), and the average BMI was 18.27 kg/m2 (SD = 2.29). Two questionnaires were used to assess children’s perspectives of problematic eating behaviours: The Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R13) and the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire for Children (DEBQ-C). One questionnaire was used to evaluate mothers’ perspectives: The Child Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ). The main results in the study indicate the following: (a) the children’s perspective based on the DEBQ-C is the most effective at predicting their BMI (this model of problematic eating behaviours explains 29% of the variance in the child’s BMI); and (b) for almost all problematic eating behaviours, older girls have the highest levels. From the current study, it can be concluded that the type of questionnaire (TFEQ-R13 vs. DEBQ-C vs. CEBQ) and the perspective (child vs. mother) differentiate the results obtained regarding the assessment of children’s problematic eating behaviours and their relation to BMI

The Impact of a Woodland Walk on Body Image: A Field Experiment and an Assessment of Dispositional and Environmental Determinants

Studies have shown that nature exposure is associated with a more positive body image, but field studies remain relatively infrequent. Here, we examine the impact of a woodland walk on an index of state positive body image (i.e., state body appreciation), as well as dispositional and environmental determinants of body image improvements. Eighty-seven Polish women went for a walk in Cygański Las, an ancient woodland, and completed a measure of state body appreciation before and after the walk. As hypothesised, state body appreciation was significantly higher post-walk compared to pre-walk (d = 0.56). Additionally, we found that the trait of self-compassion—but not the traits of connectedness to nature, perceived aesthetic qualities of the woodland, or subjective restoration—was significantly associated with larger improvements in state body appreciation. These results suggest that even relatively brief exposure to nature results in elevated state body appreciation, with the dispositional trait of self-compassion being associated with larger effects

The Homeostatic Theory of Obesity: An Empirical Verification of the Circle of Discontent with an Assessment of Its Relationship to Restrained and Uncontrolled Eating among Children and Adolescents

The purpose of the present study was to provide an empirical verification of the Circle of Discontent with an assessment of its relationship to restrained and uncontrolled eating among children and adolescents. This study examined whether our results confirm a new hypothesized model. The total sample comprised 282 children and adolescents (148 girls and 134 boys; 141 participants with normal body weight and 141 with obesity). The mean age was 12.23 years (SD = 2.80), and the average BMI (body mass index) was 23.29 kg/m2 (SD = 6.27). The following were used: Positive and Negative Affect Scale for Children, Children’s Body Image Scale, Figure Rating Scale, Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire and Eating Disorders in Youth. The obtained values of the model fit indices proved the goodness of fit. Our findings show that obesity accompanies body dissatisfaction and uncontrolled and restrictive eating. Moreover, the higher the level of restrictive eating, the lower the level of uncontrolled eating. The relationships between body dissatisfaction, negative affect and restrictive eating, as well as that between uncontrolled eating and high-energy consumption, are significant and positive. Other relationships are non-significant. The above-mentioned relationships established in the Circle of Discontent, as well as relationships of restrained and uncontrolled eating with variables described in the circle, were confirmed. Based on our results, preventive strategies and psychological interventions can be created and may include changes in body image, eating behaviors and emotional functioning

Food-related behaviours among individuals with overweight/obesity and normal body weight

Abstract Background Emotional eating is a factor associated with a negative body image and other problematic eating behaviours. In this context little is known about differences between individuals with overweight and obesity and those with normal body weight. The main aim of the study was to evaluate the role of emotional eating in the relationship between the desire to consume chocolate and the wish to avoid social situations related to food and body exposures. For this purpose, we tested the direct, indirect and buffer effects. In addition, we used moderated mediation by introducing snacking into the model. Methods The study included 123 outpatients with excessive body weight and 123 individuals with normal weight. The mean of body mass index (BMI) in the first group was 30.19 kg/m2 (SD = 4.37) and, in the second, it was 23.02 kg/m2 (SD = 1.20). The Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire, the Attitudes to Chocolate Questionnaire and the Body Image Avoidance Questionnaire were used. Results Results show that in all individuals, the greater emotional eating is, the greater the desire for chocolate consumption and avoidance of social situations related to food and body exposures are. In addition, the desire for chocolate consumption are positively associated with avoidance of social situations related to food and body exposures in both group. Among individuals with excessive and normal body weight, emotional eating is a significant mediator in the relationship between desire for chocolate consumption and avoidance of social situations related to food and body exposures. However, it does not moderate the relationship between these variables. Outcomes show that there is a significant model of moderated mediation of the link between social situation–avoidance related to food and body exposure and the desire to consume chocolate through emotional eating, moderated by snacking among individuals with normal body weight. A similar effect has not been discovered in the group with excessive body weight. Conclusion The presented results show that among people with varied BMI categories, emotional eating is connected to craving chocolate and avoidance of social situations related to food and body exposure that plays only the role of mediation. In addition, snacking is crucial for this relationship among the group with normal body weight

The Impact of a Woodland Walk on Body Image: A Field Experiment and an Assessment of Dispositional and Environ-mental Determinants

Studies have shown that nature exposure is associated with more positive body image, but field studies remain relatively infrequent. Here, we examined the impact of a woodland walk on an index of state positive body image (i.e., state body appreciation), as well as dispositional and en-vironmental determinants of body image improvements. Eighty-seven Polish women went for a walk in Cygański Las, an ancient woodland, and completed a measure of state body appreciation before and after the walk. As hypothesised, state body appreciate was significantly higher post-walk compared to pre-walk (d = 0.56). Additionally, we found that trait self-compassion – but not trait connectedness to nature, perceived aesthetic qualities of the woodland, or subjective restoration – was significantly associated with larger improvements to state body appreciation. These results suggest that even relatively brief exposure to nature results in elevated state body appreciation, with the dispositional trait of self-compassion being associated with larger effects