Elizabeth H. Blodgett Salafia

A 4-Year Longitudinal Investigation of the Processes by Which Parents and Peers Influence the Development of Early Adolescent Girls' Bulimic Symptoms.

Bulimic symptoms are fairly common among adolescent girls, and the dual pathway model outlines one possible etiological chain leading to bulimic symptoms. The present study seeks to longitudinally examine the pathways proposed by this model while focusing on the relative contribution of parents and peers (via direct encouragement or pressure to be thin and indirect discussion of dieting). Four years of self-report data were collected from 85 early adolescent girls during fifth through eighth grades. Results indicated that mothers, fathers, and peers each played an important role in the development of girls’ bulimic symptoms by affecting their body dissatisfaction, which was related to later dieting behaviors, depressive symptoms, and bulimic symptoms. Furthermore, results suggested that peers were a stronger influence than mothers and fathers. The authors conclude that both parents and peers play important roles in girls’ development of bulimic symptoms, and future work should especially include peers.

Heterosocial involvement, peer pressure for thinness, and body dissatisfaction among young adolescent girls

The purpose of this study was to examine longitudinal connections among young adolescent heterosocial involvement (i.e., mixed-sex interactions), peer pressure for thinness, and body dissatisfaction. Three years of self-report questionnaire data were collected from 88 adolescent girls as they completed 6th through 8th grades. Results indicated that the relation between heterosocial involvement and body dissatisfaction was mediated by perceived peer pressure for thinness. Within this model, heterosocial involvement was associated with greater peer pressure for thinness. In turn, peer pressure for thinness was associated with greater body dissatisfaction. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for prevention and intervention efforts aimed at girls during their middle-school years.

Preventing the development of body issues in adolescent girls through intervention with their mothers.

The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of the Healthy Girls Project, an ecologically based, targeted prevention program aimed at discouraging the development of body-related problems in middle-school girls via an intervention directly and only with their mothers. Participants were 31 seventh- and eighth-grade girls and their mothers. The empirically based intervention comprised a series of 4 weekly workshops that had both interactive psychoeducational components and behavioral components (e.g., homework to do with daughters, modeling activities). The study design was experimental, with mother-daughter dyads randomly assigned to either the intervention group or a wait-list control group. Daughters completed pretest (i.e., pre-workshop) measures, posttest measures, and, 3 months later, follow-up measures. Results indicated that at both posttest and follow-up, girls whose mothers were in the intervention group perceived less pressure from their mothers to be thin. At follow-up, these girls also showed a lower drive for thinness. Results were mixed regarding group differences in body dissatisfaction levels at posttest and at follow-up. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for targeted prevention efforts aimed at girls during their middle-school years.

The Relationship Between College Women’s Sexual Attitudes and Sexual Activity: The Mediating Role of Body Image

ABSTRACT. This study examined the relationship between sexual attitudes and engagement in sexual activity among a sample of 401 college women. In addition, we investigated the potential role of body image as a mediator of this relationship. Online surveys included self-report measures of sexual attitudes ranging from liberal to conservative, body image satisfaction, and frequency of sexual activity. Results indicated that more liberal sexual attitudes were directly linked with more frequent sexual activity. Whereas mediation was not evident, indirect effects existed such that more liberal sexual attitudes were associated with higher body image satisfaction, which, in turn, was associated with increased sexual activity. Clearly, sexual attitudes and body image are important cognitive factors that affect womens sexual activity, yet each influence alone is not enough to explain the complex process that leads to sexual behavior. Although cross-sectional in nature, our findings suggest that body image and sexual attitudes may work together as a process to affect womens sexual activity.

Marital conflict and preadolescent behavioral competence: maternal knowledge as a longitudinal mediator.

The present study considered whether maternal knowledge mediated the relation between overt marital conflict and preadolescent behavioral competence. Four years of self-report data were collected from 133 mothers and their preadolescents, beginning when the preadolescents were in 4th grade. Marital conflict, maternal knowledge, and preadolescent behavioral competence were assessed at all 4 time points in order to apply a stringent methodology for assessing longitudinal mediating patterns. The results indicated that maternal knowledge mediated the relation between marital conflict and preadolescent behavioral competence. Thus, the present study identified one possible process through which marital conflict may affect preadolescent behavior.

Hierarchical Linear Modeling Analysis of Change in Maternal Knowledge over the Transition to Adolescence.

Change in maternal knowledge over the transition to adolescence was assessed using hierarchical linear modeling (HLM). In addition, maternal warmth, behavior control, and adolescent delinquency were considered as predictors of knowledge as well as time-varying covariates. Five years of self-report data were collected from 159 mothers and their early adolescents, beginning when the adolescents were in fourth grade. The results indicated that there was a significant mean decrease in maternal knowledge over time for both mother and adolescent reports. In addition, the data followed a quadratic trend, which was necessary to account for the slight increase in knowledge from T1 to T2. Maternal warmth, but not maternal behavior control, was a consistent predictor of the knowledge trajectory. Adolescent delinquency also predicted change in knowledge over time. Adolescent gender, mother’s T1 marital status, and change in mother’s marital status were not significant predictors. The study makes several important contributions, including examining knowledge across the transition to adolescence and considering a number of predictors of the knowledge trajectory.

Maternal Knowledge and Maternal Behavior Control as Predictors of Preadolescent Behavioral Competence

The present article examined relationships between maternal knowledge, maternal behavior control, and preadolescent behavioral competence over time. Four years of self-report data were collected from 133 mothers and their preadolescents, beginning when the preadolescents were in 4th grade. Knowledge, behavior control, and behavioral competence were assessed at all 4 time points. The results for preadolescent-reported variables suggested that maternal knowledge and preadolescent behavioral competence were reciprocally related, but maternal behavior control and preadolescent behavioral competence were not significantly related. Mother-reported maternal knowledge and behavior control were generally not associated with mother-reported preadolescent behavioral competence. Thus, the present study identified a longitudinal, reciprocal association between knowledge and preadolescent behavioral competence, for preadolescent reports of these variables.

Differences in Emerging-Adult Women's Body Image and Sexuality Outcomes According to BMI and Dating Status

ABSTRACT. Emerging adulthood is a crucial time for the development of body image and sexuality concerns among women. We collected self-reported data from 184 women to determine possible differences according to body mass index (BMI) classification and dating status. Multivariate analyses of variance and follow-up univariate analyses of variance were conducted to determine differences in body image and sexuality outcomes according to both BMI (normal weight vs. overweight) and dating status (dating vs. not dating) as well as interaction effects of BMI and dating status. First, results indicated differences between normal-weight and overweight women for body satisfaction, body self-consciousness, and body image avoidance. Overweight women had lower satisfaction, higher self-consciousness, and more avoidance. Differences were also found between women who were dating and those who were not dating for body satisfaction and self-consciousness: Women not dating had lower satisfaction and higher self-consciousness. Second, whereas results indicated that women of varying BMIs did not differ on sexuality outcomes, differences were found according to dating status for sexual attitudes, esteem, and self-schema, such that women not dating had more conservative sexual attitudes, less sexual esteem, and lower self-schemas. No significant interaction effects were found.

The psycho-behavioral correlates of a drive to be toned among female university students.

Maladaptive psycho-behavioral concomitants of an increased drive for muscularity among men are well-documented (Pope et al., 1997). In recent years, media outlets aimed at women have promoted the idea that the ideal female physique is toned and strong, with sculptured abs. We suggest that the male drive to become muscular and the female drive to become toned are similar. However, less is known regarding the psycho-behavioral characteristics of women attempting to become toned. Our qualitative study examined womens beliefs and attitudes towards female muscularity. Twenty-two female university students ages 18 to 32 participated in focus groups addressing what it means for a woman to be toned and the physique enhancement strategies used by women today. Participants frequently indicated that being “in shape” is a feminine body ideal and being toned equates to empowerment and self-worth. Participants noted that weight-training and replacing meals with protein shakes or food supplements were typical physique enhancing strategies. We suggest that the drive to be toned can lead to women employing self-destructive physique enhancing strategies similar to those utilized by men who demonstrate an obsessive drive to become muscular. Therefore, researchers examining female body image concerns should be cognisant of muscle-enhancing attitudes and behaviors.

Minimal impact of nutrition education and fruit and vegetable consumption on biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress.

Aims: To determine the effectiveness of a community-based fruit and vegetable education program and provision of fruits and vegetables on consumption of fruits, vegetables, antioxidants, and changes in biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress among overweight and obese adults. Study Design: Randomized controlled design. Place and Duration of Study: North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota; 14 weeks. Methodology: Forty-seven adults (31 women; 45.9 ± 11.8 y; body mass index 32.7 kg/m 2 ) were randomly assigned to one of three intervention groups. The control group received no intervention, the education group attended weekly nutrition education lessons, the fruit and vegetable group attended weekly nutrition education lessons and received one serving of fruits and two servings of vegetables per day for 10 weeks. Fasting blood was drawn and consumption of fruits, vegetables, Original Research Article Wagner et al.; EJNFS, 5(3): 179-189, 2015; Article no.EJNFS.2015.017 180 and antioxidants was assessed using three-day food records. Results: Increased consumption of fruit from preto post-test was indicated among fruit and vegetable group participants, P = .01, and among education group participants, although this difference was not significant, P = .11. In contrast, a significant decrease in fruit servings consumed from preto post-test for control group participants was observed, P = .02. Vegetable consumption was the same for control group participants, decreased by 0.3 serving among education group participants, and increased by 0.4 serving among fruit and vegetable group participants. No significant differences in plasma TNF-α, TBARS, or CRP concentrations from preto post-test were indicated among the three groups, although the largest decrease was observed among fruit and vegetable group participants, P = .07. Conclusion: Changes in fruit and vegetable consumption among participants were minimally associated with improvements in inflammation and oxidative stress biomarkers. Adequate and varied fruit and vegetable consumption is recommended to aid in the prevention and regulation of inflammation and oxidative stress.