In recent years, researchers have expressed dissatisfaction with eating disorder prevention programs, indicating a need for a clearer understanding of what causes eating disorders based upon available behavioral theoretical frameworks. A much-debated question remains about the role of the mass media in eating disorder etiology. For these reasons, the researcher explored the potential role of the mass media's images of a thin ideal in eating disorder etiology.
Using a grounded-theory approach with participant observations and interviews of women with eating disorders and women siblings (who do not have eating disorders but have sisters with eating disorders), this study is conceptually based upon existing eating disorder research, social cognitive theory, and social comparison theory.
The researcher used NUDIST 4 to search for common themes and issues to make sense of the data, and discovered that the women with eating disorders had problems with self-esteem and body image, turbulence in their lives, strained family relations, perfectionism, and a desire to be thin. The women siblings experienced similar problems to a lesser degree but identified buffers, which they said protected them from developing eating disorders. It is anticipated that findings from this study will add to the existing knowledge of eating disorder etiology, assist health educators who design primary prevention programs, and inform eating disorder treatment professionals.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to: 1) Recognize factors that women in this study said contributed to the development of their eating disorders. 2) Define the thin ideal as a female standard of beauty, as used in this study. 3) Recognize that eating disorders can develop in women beyond adolescence
Keywords: Nutrition, Health Promotion
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: none
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.