Media literacy as a prevention intervention for college women at low- or high-risk for eating disorders

Coughlin, Janelle W.; Kalodner, Cynthia R.

doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2006.01.001

Cited by 53 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Nevertheless, it should be borne in mind that the preventative interventions used in the present study were not intended to be selective, but rather universal, which could partially explain why our results appear to be at odds with the conclusions of Stice and Shaw (2004). However, the improvements found in the different risk groups in the current study are comparable to the ones found by Coughlin and Kalodner (2006) who obtained significant positive results in ED risk groups using interventions based around ML. In order to more effectively combat ED it may be important for schools to offer educational programmes that call into question perceptions of women in the mass media generally, and a feminine ideal of beauty based around thinness particularly, while working to improve knowledge of nutrition.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 80%

Evaluation of a school‐based programme of universal eating disorders prevention: Is it more effective in girls at risk?

Raich

Portell

Peláez-Fernández

2009

Euro Eating Disorders Rev

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There is currently controversy surrounding the effectiveness of universal versus selective prevention in eating disorders (ED). The present study aims at evaluating the effectiveness of universal school-based ED prevention administered to female secondary school students (n = 349). Students received either the full prevention programme (learning basic concepts of nutrition, criticism of aesthetic models of beauty emphasising extreme thinness, media literacy (ML)), a partial version of the programme (without nutritional education), or no prevention programme. Students were also classified on the presence or absence of distinct risk factors for ED: Early menarche, overweight, dieting, negative attitudes to food and perceived pressure to be thin. Pre-test data were collected 1 week prior to implementation of the prevention programme, and post-test data were collected on the last day of the programme. Results suggested that both the full and partial prevention programmes reduced perceived pressure to be thin and improved eating attitudes and knowledge of nutrition in all the participants (regardless of risk); however, greater effect sizes were found among particular high-risk groups (early menarche, overweight and highly influenced by aesthetic models of beauty emphasising extreme thinness). School-based programmes of universal intervention may have an important role to play in the prevention of ED.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 80%

Evaluation of a school‐based programme of universal eating disorders prevention: Is it more effective in girls at risk?

Raich

Portell

Peláez-Fernández

2009

Euro Eating Disorders Rev

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“…For instance, media literacy sessions have been designed to inform young women of the artificiality of media images and to reduce the frequency of social comparisons to media images. Although these sessions can produce immediate improvements in weight concerns and thin ideal internalization, they often do not impact other dimensions of body image or produce long-term effects (Coughlin and Kalodner 2006;Irving and Berel 2001;Wade et al 2003;Watson and Vaughn 2006). Since social comparisons to peers and media images are quite common among women, a more effective intervention might include providing women with information about the function and detrimental consequences of the social comparison process as opposed to providing information about the comparison target alone.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Do Appearance Focused Cognitive Distortions Moderate the Relationship between Social Comparisons to Peers and Media Images and Body Image Disturbance?

et al. 2011

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Research suggests that appearance focused social comparisons are associated with body image disturbances. This study utilized ecological momentary assessment to examine associations between appearance focused social comparisons to media images and peers and body image disturbance and affect. Appearance focused cognitive distortions were examined as a moderator. Ninety-three undergraduate women from a large public Midwestern university in the United States completed questionnaires assessing the nature, frequency, and consequences of appearance focused social comparisons. Compared to no comparison, media comparisons were associated with greater body checking, negative affect, and guilt; peer comparisons were associated with greater body checking and guilt. Cognitive distortions moderated the relationship between appearance focused social comparisons and body checking. Specifically, the relationship between peer comparisons and body checking was strengthened at higher levels of appearance focused cognitive distortions. When only upward comparisons were considered, the relationships between both media and peer comparisons and body checking were strengthened at higher levels of appearance focused cognitive distortions. These results have implications for the treatment of body dissatisfaction.

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“…The general internalization subscale is commonly used to assess thin-ideal internalization in risk factor and intervention studies (Cafri, Yamamiya, Brannick, & Thompson, 2005; Coughlin & Kalodner, 2006; Yamamiya, Cash, Melnyk, Posavac, & Posavac, 2005). This subscale assesses the extent to which participants want to look like individuals from various media sources.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Socialization and selection effects in the association between weight conscious peer groups and thin-ideal internalization: A co-twin control study

et al. 2016

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Affiliation with weight conscious peer groups is theorized to increase thin-ideal internalization through socialization processes. However, selection effects could contribute if genetic and/or environmental predispositions lead to affiliation with weight conscious peers. Co-twin control methodology was used to examine socialization and selection effects in 614 female twins (ages 8–15) from the Michigan State University Twin Registry (MSUTR). Thin-ideal internalization and peer group characteristics were assessed via self-report questionnaires. Results suggested the presence of both socialization and selection effects. In terms of socialization, twins who reported increased exposure to weight conscious peers relative to their co-twins had elevated thin-ideal internalization scores, regardless of zygosity. However, associations between weight conscious peers and thin-ideal internationalization within twin pairs were attenuated, suggesting that genetic and shared environmental selection effects also contribute. Findings significantly extend previous work by confirming the presence of socialization processes and highlighting selection processes to be examined in future longitudinal research.

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Media literacy as a prevention intervention for college women at low- or high-risk for eating disorders

Cited by 53 publications

References 32 publications

Evaluation of a school‐based programme of universal eating disorders prevention: Is it more effective in girls at risk?

Evaluation of a school‐based programme of universal eating disorders prevention: Is it more effective in girls at risk?

Do Appearance Focused Cognitive Distortions Moderate the Relationship between Social Comparisons to Peers and Media Images and Body Image Disturbance?

Socialization and selection effects in the association between weight conscious peer groups and thin-ideal internalization: A co-twin control study

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