A pictorial instrument was developed to examine perceptions of body figure in a cross-sectional survey of 7 J 78 preadolescent children. Hypothesis testing related to differences in figure selections by gender, grade, race, and schoolicommunity setting revealed males selected /deal Self slightly thinner than Self. However, females selected Ideal Self significantly thinner than Self, as well as thinner than males' selection of Ideal Self and /deal Girl. Additionally, females made thinner Ideal Adult figure selections than males. Though blacks chose heavier figures than whites, females of both races desired thinner figures. Bias toward thinness among females occurred across all levels of age, weight, race, and schoollcommunity setting, with 42% desiring thinner figures. Results of this study suggest that the onset of disparate figure perceptions and expectations regarding thinness among females may be evident as early as 6 and 7 years of age.Children's perceptions related to weight, thinness, and body figure are issues of increasing concern to health professionals. Although a number of studies have documented the western trend toward thinness of body figure for women
Eleven schools in the south of England took part in a trial of 'Safe in the Sun', a curriculum programme for primary school aged pupils. Case study methodology and the 'draw and write' technique were combined to evaluate changes in pupils' perceptions of the effects of the sun on their skin. Teachers were free to use the materials, consisting of a teacher's handbook and video, as they wished. Pupils in all schools showed higher levels of awareness of sun-safety measures in post-intervention studies compared with the levels recorded 4 months earlier. Chi-square analysis revealed that those pupils whose teachers had used the materials as recommended by the authors had significant increases in awareness and knowledge about keeping safe in the sun, compared with other levels of intervention. More pupils also appeared able to transfer their awareness to the context of the school playground, although the differences were not significant for any level of intervention. The discussion focuses on the value of the 'draw and write' technique as a tool for illuminative evaluation, on the factors which contributed to the pupils increased awareness of sun safety and on the importance of a whole school approach to sun safety.
Though education for healthy body weight traditionally has focused on obesity, the increased incidence of anorexia nervosa and bulimia among young women suggests education also is needed to address the opposite end of the spectrum. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia are complex and multidimensional disorders associated with individual, family, and sociocultural factors. This article examines the cultural pressure for dieting and thinness currently experienced in America and its impact as a possible predisposing factor for developing eating disorders among adolescent females. Literature is reviewed related to the changing American standard of attractiveness for females reflected by 20th century mass media and its subsequent influence on adolescent concerns for dieting and thinness. Preventive strategies are recommended to help adolescents balance the cultural pressure for thinness and their own desires for attractiveness within the larger context of overall good health.
This paper describes the conceptualization, development, planning, and implementation of a new professional preparation course entitled "AIDS/HIV Education: Issues and Strategies." The 15-week, campuswide course was offered through the Dept. of Health Science Education at the University of Florida during spring semester 1990. Though universities have been identified as providers of preservice education for future teachers and health professionals, current activities often have been deemed inadequate to meet the needs of those charged with providing AIDS/HIV education. This course was implemented to address an array of issues related to HIV education, ranging from epidemiological and biomedical information and educational strategies to examination of personal and ethical issues surrounding the disease. Delivery of a successful course and student reaction are discussed, along with recommendations for programs considering similar educational efforts. A detailed planned information packet is available from the authors.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.