(Objective) We have developed a school-based intervention designed to prevent eating-disturbed behaviors in adolescent girls, defined as behaviors characteristic of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa or binge-purge disorder, but which fail to fit all DSM IV criteria. Adolescent girls are particularly at risk: their bodies are changing, peer pressure is surfacing, and as new consumers they are extremely sought after by advertisers. Our program calls for an all-female, year-long health class to teach self-efficacy skills crucial for resisting peer norms and societal pressures to lose weight. This intervention has three primary objectives. By the end of one school year, the seventh and eighth grade girls will have (a) increased their ability to resist negative peer norms, (b) increased their ability to resist harmful media images and, consequently, (c) shown an increase in body satisfaction. (Methods) Based on previously tested school-based interventions, we selected Bandura's Social Learning Theory as the most promising approach. Our target population: seventh and eighth grade girls from middle-to-upperclass families, who represent the majority of eating-disturbed and eating-disordered individuals. (Results and Conclusion) This program is valuable because it is one of the first to employ a primary prevention strategy targeting eating disturbances, which often preface eating disorders. Moreover, the use of Social Learning Theory addresses how eating-disturbed behaviors are influenced by a person's interaction with the environment. We predict girls will improve their efficacy expectations towards resisting negative peer and societal norms, leading to an increase in overall body satisfaction.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participants in the session will be able to (1) Identify the difference between eating disturbances and eating disorders, (2) Recognize the impact that the media and peer pressure have on adolescent girls, making them more vulnerable to engaging in eating-disturbed behaviors, and (3) Analyze how Social Learning Theory can be an effective tool when considering the environment's impact on the body satisfaction of adolescent girls
Keywords: Adolescent Health, School-Based Programs
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD)
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.