Thin-Ideal Internalization, Self-Objectification, and Body Dissatisfaction in the Prevention of Eating Disorders in 5 to 7 Year Old Girls

Eating disorder symptoms and risk factors, such as body dissatisfaction, thin-ideal internalization and self-objectification are increasing in prevalence and are being seen in girls at younger ages. However, little is known about the onset and development of these symptoms in girls under the age of 10. Identifying the age of onset and factors that foster the development of these symptoms is pertinent to developing age appropriate eating disorder prevention programs. The aim of the current study is to explore the age of onset and factors that influence the development of thin-ideal internalization, self-objectification, body dissatisfaction, and eating disorder symptoms in 5 to 7 year old girls. Since previous research has identified mothers’ as influential in the development of body dissatisfaction and eating disorder symptoms in adolescent girls, the current study will explore the mother-daughter relationship in a younger sample with regards to eating disorder symptoms. Participants for the current study included 151 mother-daughter pairs. Each pair completed individual mirror exposure exercises and a joint mirror exposure exercise with both mother and daughter participating. Mothers then completed a survey on their own self-objectification, thin-ideal internalization, body dissatisfaction, and eating disorder symptoms. Daughters completed a semi-structured interview to assess these same constructs. Demographic information was provided by mothers, and body mass indexes were directly measured for both mothers and daughters. Results from the current study indicate that girls as young as 5 years old are beginning to report experiencing self-objectification, thin-ideal internalization, body dissatisfaction, and eating disorder symptoms, with most of these variables steadily increasing as age increases. Additionally, mothers’ comments about her own body dissatisfaction in the presence of her daughter can directly impact their daughters’ comments about their own bodies, with mothers who make more negative comments about their bodies having daughters who also make more negative comments about their own bodies. These results can be used to aid the development of prevention programs designed to educate mothers on the impact they have on their daughters, as well as ways that they can shape their daughters’ body image to be more positive in an effort to prevent eating disorder symptoms

Individual Differences in Zebrafish (\u3ci\u3eDanio rerio\u3c/i\u3e) Behavior: Implications for Personality

Individual differences (IDs) in zebrafish (Danio rerio) behavior were examined across time and contexts in order to investigate personality traits. Zebrafish (N = 30) were exposed to six behavioral tasks that were collectively expected to capture (a) aggression, (b) boldness/shyness, and (c) fear. The tasks included a small open field, mirror exposure, emergence, large open field, novel object, and predator exposure tasks. IDs in behavior were found to be consistent across time for a majority of behaviors and consistent across contexts for all but two behaviors. Convergent and discriminate evidence was examined for the three constructs. There was little evidence for an aggressive trait, which may largely be attributed to the behaviors chosen for measurement in this study. There were mixed results for identifying a separate bold vs. fearless construct; however, results largely indicate that the emergence, novel object, and predator exposure tasks may all have been capturing a tradeoff between boldness and fear. Results suggest that responses to novel objects depend on the object used (the basis for which is still unknown), suggesting that more research needs to be done to determine how best to utilize a novel object task for this species. Although the results from this project did not allow for specific traits to be labeled with confidence, the predator task demonstrated high internal consistency and may be particular useful for capturing fear/anxiety-like traits. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive examination of zebrafish behavior, support for consistent IDs and personality traits, and a much-needed foundation for further personality research in a key model organism, the zebrafish

The Female Athlete Body (FAB) Study: Rationale, Design, and Baseline Characteristics

Background: Eating Disorders (EDs) are serious psychiatric illnesses marked by psychiatric comorbidity, medical complications, and functional impairment. Research indicates that female athletes are often at greater risk for developing ED pathology versus non-athlete females. The Female Athlete Body (FAB) study is a three-site, randomized controlled trial (RCT) designed to assess the efficacy of a behavioral ED prevention program for female collegiate athletes when implemented by community providers. This paper describes the design, intervention, and participant baseline characteristics. Future papers will discuss outcomes. Methods: Female collegiate athletes (N = 481) aged 17–21 were randomized by site, team, and sport type to either FAB or a waitlist control group. FAB consisted of three sessions (1.3 h each) of a behavioral ED prevention program. Assessments were conducted at baseline (pre-intervention), post-intervention (3 weeks), and six-, 12-, and 18-month follow-ups. Results: This study achieved 96% (N = 481) of target recruitment (N = 500). Few group differences emerged at baseline. Total sample analyses revealed moderately low baseline instances of ED symptoms and clinical cases. Conclusions: Health risks associated with EDs necessitate interventions for female athletes. The FAB study is the largest existing RCT for female athletes aimed at both reduction of ED risk factors and ED prevention. The methods presented and population recruited for this study represent an ideal intervention for assessing the effects of FAB on both the aforementioned outcomes. We anticipate that findings of this study (reported in future papers) will make a significant contribution to the ED risk factor reduction and prevention literature

What can my body do for me? Seeking to improve body-satisfaction with a guided functionality mirror exposure

Research has identified negative body image as a growing concern among college-aged women. In turn, significant research has been devoted to exploring various treatments for body- dissatisfaction. Prior research has found mirror exposure (ME) interventions to be effective in improving body-satisfaction. However, few studies to date have incorporated aspects of positive body image within an ME treatment. The current study incorporates concepts of body- functionality within a guided ME task with the intent of facilitating participants appreciation of the functional capabilities of the body as opposed to mere physical appearance. All participants completed a set of measures assessing levels of body-appreciation, state body-esteem, and body- surveillance both before and after an ME task guided by an audio recording. Participants who were made to think about the functionality of their bodies during the audio recording displayed increased body-appreciation and increased orientation toward the fitness of their bodies. However, no significant differences were found between groups in terms of self-objectification or state body-image. Thus, this research supports prior findings identifying functionality as a means to improving body-appreciation and provides support for interventions that incorporate these concepts

Effects of Mirror Exposure and Brief Mindfulness Interventions in Undergraduate Females with Weight and Shape Concerns

Risk of disordered eating is high amongst college women in the U.S., often resulting in negative outcomes with regard to health, social functioning and psychological well-being. Disordered eating is associated with multiple aspects of emotional processing, such as emotion regulation, negative affect, and avoidance. Emotional processing difficulties can be addressed with both exposure techniques and mindfulness, which involves present moment awareness with an attitude of acceptance and non-judgment. Interventions using mirror exposure (standing before a mirror and systematically describing the body) to treat disordered eating and body image, particularly those utilizing aspects of mindfulness, show promise in terms of improving outcomes above and beyond standard therapeutic treatment; however, there is limited research demonstrating this effect. In the present study, undergraduate women (N = 52) who endorsed moderate or greater body shape concern were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: Mirror Exposure alone (ME), a combined Mindfulness Meditation and Mirror Exposure Group (MME), or a no treatment control group (NT). All participants returned after one week to complete follow-up questionnaires. Two mixed repeated-measures analyses of variances (ANOVAs) were conducted to test hypotheses regarding the impact of time and group differences. It was hypothesized that both active groups would demonstrate improvements in disordered eating and body shape concern, across time, and results were consistent with hypotheses. However, there were no significant differences when compared to the NT group, and no significant interactions between group and time. While participants improved across time, the intervention did not exceed the effect of the control group. Therefore, the changes seen may not have been attributable to the intervention, but to other factors

Markerless motion capture system via kinematic analysis of angular lower limb

The introduction of markerless sensor technology in motion capture system offers a comparable alternative to the conventional systems by employing infrared-depth sensors and retaining the ability to acquire two (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) data on human movement. However, its accuracy is often questioned compared to the established technologies such as passive marker systems. Therefore, this study sets an alternative method to evaluate Kinect Xbox 360 markerless system accuracy based on two positioning coordinates of two pairs of sensors. Through this approach, the length of lower limb segments was measured in 2D and 3D on each motion frame while performing squat movement and compared with the actual segment length. Interestingly, all segment lengths in the 3D showed excellent accuracy with the actual length of the segment. The angle of knee joints was also evaluated to identify the types of squat movements. The same evaluation is also used for the accuracy of a passive marker system while capturing the turning kick motion. In addition, the velocity of the knee joint was also studied at each phase of movement to determine the speed and angular of the knee required to enable the subject's foot to reach the target. For validation purposes, simulations of all recorded motions were implemented to evaluate the squat and the phases of movement in a turning kick from a visual angle. Successfully, the study was able to compare the accuracy and precision of the system constructed using lower limb data relative to the passive marker system using actual lower limb data. The markerless gave a remarkable difference value between the highest and lowest percentage coefficients of variation with 3.90%, while the passive marker system gave 5.72%. It is suggested that the multi-camera markerless motion capture system used in this study be used only for applications that do not require a significant level of accuracy such as animations, gaming and recreational sports analyses

Embodied effects of posture: Changing emotional and cognitive processes through the body

La cognición y emoción encarnada es un concepto que está revitalizando el interés por estudiar el papel del cuerpo en el procesamiento de información. Este concepto puede definirse como un efecto donde el cuerpo, su estado sensoriomotor, su morfología o su representación mental juega un papel fundamental en la configuración de los procesos cognitivos y emocionales. El cuerpo y sus procesos implicados han recibido escasa atención dentro de las teorías del procesamiento cognitivo que han predominado en las últimas décadas. No obstante, en los últimos años se ha producido un cambio en la forma de entender el procesamiento de la información, ya que la evidencia empírica señala que el cuerpo ejerce una gran influencia en la conformación de nuestros pensamientos y emociones. Estos hallazgos se enmarcan en las teorías de la cognición encarnada, en las cuales el supuesto básico es que el procesamiento de la información se encuentra influenciado, asociado, y a veces dependiente, de recursos perceptivos, somatosensoriales y motores. Por lo tanto, estas teorías asumen que la cognición o el procesamiento de la información puede depender de estados corporales y acciones físicas; y, en consecuencia, los estados cognitivos pueden influenciar los estados corporales asociados, y a la inversa. Diversos estudios experimentales avalan dicha relación bidireccional a través de la manipulación de la postura corporal. Así pues, una amplia evidencia empírica sugiere que adoptar una postura expansiva y/o erguida (versus encorvada y/o contraída) tiene efectos positivos en procesos cognitivos y emocionales. Sin embargo, los efectos derivados de la cognición encarnada apenas han sido estudiados en el campo de la psicopatología y la psicología clínica. En consecuencia, las terapias actuales basadas en la evidencia no se han beneficiados todo lo posible del uso de estrategias relacionadas con el cuerpo, que podrían ayudar a enriquecer y mejorar los resultados terapéuticos. Así pues, la presente tesis doctoral surgió de la necesidad de cubrir dicho vacío en la literatura científica, con el objetivo último de investigar cómo las estrategias relacionadas con el cuerpo −y específicamente, las manipulaciones de la postura corporal− podrían ser utilizadas con fines terapéuticos. Por ello, los objetivos principales de esta tesis consistieron en: (1) analizar el efecto de adoptar una postura corporal expansiva y erguida (versus contraída y encorvada) antes y durante la exposición a diversos estímulos ansiógenos (asociados a la ansiedad social y a los trastornos alimentarios) sobre procesos cognitivos y emocionales; (2) investigar el efecto de adoptar una postura erguida (versus encorvada) en la modificación de dos mecanismos asociados al mantenimiento de la depresión (los sesgos cognitivos de interpretación y las dificultades en generar imágenes mentales), así como en las emociones relacionadas; (3) explorar las posibles variables moderadoras y mediadoras que nos permitan conocer mejor para quién y cómo se producen los efectos de la postura corporal en los procesos cognitivos y emocionales; y (4) clarificar las posibles implicaciones clínicas de la manipulación de la postura corporal como estrategia terapéutica para la promoción de cambios cognitivos y emocionales. Para lograr dichos objetivos, se realizaron tres estudios experimentales en el contexto de laboratorio con claras implicaciones clínicas. Los estudios 1 y 2 tenían como objetivo analizar el papel de una postura expansiva y erguida (versus contraída y encorvada) en la exposición a estímulos ansiógenos: una audiencia (en el caso del estudio 1, en individuos con miedo a hablar en público) y el propio cuerpo (en el caso del estudio 2, en individuos con insatisfacción corporal). Por otra parte, el estudio 3 tenía como objetivo analizar el papel de la postura erguida (versus encorvada) en los sesgos cognitivos de interpretación, las dificultades en imaginación positiva y las emociones asociadas a la depresión. Los resultados señalan que adoptar una postura expansiva y erguida (versus una postura contraída y encorvada) tiene efectos beneficiosos sobre diversos procesos emocionales y cognitivos en muestras con sintomatología diversa (miedo a hablar en público, insatisfacción corporal y sintomatología depresiva). En el presente trabajo se discuten las implicaciones teóricas y clínicas respecto al papel del cuerpo en los procesos cognitivos y emocionales. No obstante, es necesario seguir investigando sobre los efectos encarnados de la postura corporal, ya que sólo la investigación nos ayudará a dilucidar cómo, cuándo, para quién y por qué adoptar una postura corporal específica podría ser beneficioso en el contexto terapéutico como una estrategia coadyuvante de las actuales terapias basadas en la evidencia

Hormones Matter? Association of the Menstrual Cycle With Selective Attention for Liked and Disliked Body Parts

Body dissatisfaction is wide spread among women and is considered a risk factor for eating pathology. Therefore, it is clinically relevant to investigate potential influencing factors. While previous research has mainly revealed inconsistent findings for attentional processes in body perception, the present study aimed to investigate the association of menstrual cycle phase with body satisfaction and its perception. In a within subject design, 16 women with a natural menstrual cycle (NC) and 19 women who used hormonal contraception (HC) rated their bodily attractiveness and underwent a 3-minute mirror exposure while their eye movements were recorded at two different times during their cycle (NC: ovulation vs. late luteal phase; HC: mid vs. end of cycle). At ovulation, NC women felt more attractive and gazed less at unattractive body parts in contrast to the late luteal phase, where they felt less attractive and gazed more at unattractive body parts. There was no difference in the gaze pattern for the attractive body parts at ovulation and late luteal phase. Notably, HC women showed a balanced gazed pattern at attractive and unattractive body at both times. The menstrual cycle phase is associated with women’s self-rated attractiveness and selective attention when looking at their own body. It should therefore be taken into account in clinical research addressing body image

Body image in midlife: Developing a psychosocial intervention for women who have received treatment for breast cancer

Survival rates for breast cancer have improved over the recent decades, and increasing numbers of women in midlife are coming to terms with the consequences of the disease and its treatment. Among the various side-effects associated with treatment are appearance and bodily alterations, which can elicit body image concerns and subsequently impose long-lasting adverse impacts upon psychological and physical health. Governments, health services, and support organisations have stressed the importance of the development, evaluation, and dissemination of psychosocial interventions that provide support for women adjusting to the residual consequences of the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, including body image distress. The overall aim of this thesis was to develop and assess the acceptability of an evidence-informed psychosocial intervention targeting body image among women in midlife who have undergone treatment for breast cancer. The thesis adopted a mixed-method pragmatic approach, and followed the Medical Research Council’s framework for the development and evaluation of complex interventions (Craig et al., 2008). First, a systematic review of existing body image interventions for women in midlife, including those treated for breast cancer, was conducted to assess the current status of the literature and identify existing effective interventions. Interventions targeting women in midlife (n=11) were found to have longer-lasting and larger effects on body image at post-test and were evaluated in studies of greater methodological rigour, compared with interventions targeting women who had undergone treatment for breast cancer (n=22). Second, an online survey tested and compared an established sociocultural model of body image (Tripartite Influence Model; Thompson, Heinberg, Altabe, & Tantleff-Dunn, 1999) between women in midlife who were treated (n=169), and not treated (n=323), for breast cancer, in order to assess potential targets for body image interventions and the applicability of research and interventions among women in midlife for use with women treated for breast cancer. This study revealed a similar pattern of risk factors among both groups, whereby sociocultural and psychological factors proposed within the model influenced body image. Next, an integration of findings from the systematic review and online survey informed the adaptation of an existing evidence-based and rigorously evaluated body image intervention for women in midlife (McLean, Paxton, & Wertheim, 2011) for use among women treated for breast cancer. Finally, the adapted intervention was evaluated for its acceptability through focus groups and interviews with women who had undergone treatment for breast cancer (n=22) and health professionals involved in their psychosocial care (n=5). The adapted intervention was found to be acceptable to both participant groups, pending some further amendments. In addition to informing the adaptation of an existing body image intervention for use with women who have undergone treatment for breast cancer, the findings also provide important implications for practice, theory, and research. The present research has identified previously unexplored sociocultural and psychological influences on the body image of women who have undergone treatment for breast cancer and reveals the value of a theoretical model developed within the wider body image field for a group with an altered appearance