Abstracts
Can becoming a critical consumer of media and advertising lower the risk of Grade 8 girls and boys developing eating disorders (anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa)?
Dr Simon Wilksch
PhD awarded April 2007 – Flinders University, Clinical Psychology
Supervised through Clinical Psychology, Flinders University
This research investigated the effectiveness of a program designed to reduce symptoms that have been identified as contributing to the development of eating disorders in Grade 8 girls and boys. The researcher developed and taught the 8-lesson program designed to educate students about the media and the way images we see in magazines are often digitally altered (e.g., airbrushing) or manipulated. A strong focus was made on interactive learning activities with frequent small group work and class discussions.
Overall, 540 Grade 8 South Australian students participated. Approximately half of these received the program while the other half attended their normal school classes (control). Students completed questionnaires measuring 8 eating disorder risk factors. These were completed immediately before the program started (Time 1), when it finished (Time 2, 4 weeks after Time 1) and then again at 6-month follow-up (Time 3). The average score for students who received the program was lower than the average score of control participants for dieting, body dissatisfaction, ineffectiveness and concern about weight and shape at Time 2 and Time 3. Sub-analyses showed the program to be of benefit for both girls and boys, but particularly helpful for boys.
Compared to other eating disorder prevention studies (in Australia and overseas), the results of this study were positive. The findings show that girls might need prevention programs at an even younger age (before adolescence), while boys should be included in prevention programs (since they are often left out).
