Abuse Treatment: Effects on Eating Disorder Symptomatology and Body Dissatisfaction

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore internalized lesbophobia and eating disorder symptomatology among lesbian current and former athletes and the possible link between the two phenomena. In-depth interviews were conducted with 15 physically active adult lesbians who had at least 10 years of athletic experience. Lesbophobia was defined as the internalization of society’s negative attitudes and assumptions regarding lesbianism. Eating disorder symptomatology was defined as attitudes and behaviors associated with eating pathology (e.g., body dissatisfaction, weight preoccupation, fat phobia, frequent dieting, fasting, bingeing/purging, and other weight control measures). Findings suggested a connection between internalized lesbophobia and eating disorder symptomatology, that is, individuals who expressed greater negativity associated with being a lesbian, particularly concerns about being perceived as lesbian, reported more body dissatisfaction, weight preoccupation, fat phobia, and other eating disordered attitudes and behaviors. The social implications of these findings are discussed.

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Psychological Commitment to Exercise and Eating Disorder Symptomatology among Female Aerobic Instructors

The Sport Psychologist ◽

10.1123/tsp.12.2.180 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 180-190 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Kathleen A. Martin ◽

Heather A. Hausenblas

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Eating Disorders ◽

Eating Disorder ◽

Body Dissatisfaction ◽

Role Models ◽

Drive For Thinness ◽

Eating Disorder Inventory ◽

Psychological Commitment ◽

Eating Disorder Symptomatology ◽

Practical Implications

Researchers have questioned aerobic instructors’ status as healthy role models by suggesting that they are excessive exercisers who may be at risk for developing eating disorders. To address this issue, 286 female aerobic instructors (mean age = 34.1) completed the Commitment to Exercise Scale (CES) and the Bulimia (B), Body Dissatisfaction (BD), and Drive for Thinness (DT) subscales of the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2). Instructors scored low on the CES (M = 62.24) relative to other high-exercising populations. Scores on the EDI-2 subscales were also low compared to published norms (M = .78, 7.8, and 3.2 for B, BD, and DT, respectively). Simple correlations revealed that the CES was related to all three EDI-2 subscales (rs ranged from .18 to .30; ps < .01). Discussion focuses on factors that may account for instructors’ healthy attitudes toward exercise and eating, and practical implications for sport psychologists who work with fitness instructors.

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Acculturation, Body Image, Self-Esteem, And Eating-Disorder Symptomatology In Adolescent Mexican American Women

Psychology of Women Quarterly ◽

10.1111/j.1471-6402.1996.tb00309.x ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 20 (3) ◽

pp. 419-435 ◽

Cited By ~ 81

Author(s):

Greg W. Joiner ◽

Susan Kashubeck

Keyword(s):

Body Image ◽

Eating Disorder ◽

Body Dissatisfaction ◽

Mexican American ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Eating Attitudes ◽

Mexican American Women ◽

Eating Disordered ◽

Adolescent Women ◽

Eating Disorder Symptomatology

In this article the relationship among acculturation, body image, self-esteem, and eating disorder symptomatology in 120 Mexican American adolescent women was investigated. Surprisingly, acculturation levels were not related to anorexic or bulimic symptomatology, self-esteem, body dissatisfaction or thinness of ideal and attractive figures. Lower levels of self-esteem predicted higher levels of anorexic and bulimic symptomatology. Body mass was positively related to bulimic scores. In contrast to Lester and Petrie (1995), body dissatisfaction was significantly related to eating-disorder symptomatology. The high levels of disordered eating attitudes and behaviors found in this study suggest that rather than exclusively being an Anglo, middle-to upper-class phenomenon, eating-disordered behavior also exists within lower socioeconomic status Mexican American adolescent women.

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