Lilac Lev-Ari

Mirror, mirror on the wall: how women learn body dissatisfaction.

Extensive research indicates that exposure to media as well as pressure and modeling by sociocultural agents, such as peers and family, are predictive of the development of body image dissatisfaction (BID). This influence is mediated by social comparison and internalization of the thin-ideal. In the current study we assessed comparisons between participants and other women with whom they were in close relationships, (e.g. mother, sister and close female friend), and hypothesized that these would influence womens BID and drive-to-thinness. 283 women between the ages of 18-42 (mean=25.04; SD=3.53) sampled through social networking completed an online self-report which included the original Figure Rating Scale, which yielded self-ideal disparity, as well as a modified version comparing self to mother, self to sister closest-in-age, and self to best friend and then were asked to directly compare themselves to these women. In addition they completed the EDI-2s drive-for-thinness and body dissatisfaction subscales, and reported on Body Mass Index (BMI). Results indicate that comparisons to mothers, sisters, and best friend, were all associated with self-ideal disparity. BMI only slightly mediated this effect. Comparison to sister and to best friend, but not to mother, influenced drive-for-thinness and body dissatisfaction. Positive correlations were found between direct and indirect comparisons to others. Comparison to best friend was the most influential on body ideal. We conclude that comparison to others in close proximity greatly influences womens body ideal and may have a formative role in the development of womens body dissatisfaction. While women cannot choose their mother and sister closest in age, they do choose their best friend; and it is interesting that the comparison to the best friend is so influential.

Show Me Your Friends, and I Shall Show You Who You Are: The Way Attachment and Social Comparisons Influence Body Dissatisfaction

Women with attachment insecurity have greater eating disorder symptoms and poorer prognosis. Socio-cultural agents, such as peers and family, are predictive of the development of body image dissatisfaction (BID). The present study examines the association of insecure attachment styles and direct and indirect social comparisons of body image to womens BID and drive to thinness. Two hundred and eighty three women aged 18-42 years completed online self-reports concerning attachment styles, body mass index (BMI), drive for thinness, body image satisfaction, the Figure Rating Scale (FRS), as well as a modified FRS comparing self to mother, to sister closest in age and to best friend. Hierarchical Linear Models reveal that anxious-ambivalent, but not avoidant attachment style, along with indirect and direct comparisons to best friend and to sister influence drive for thinness and body dissatisfaction, even after controlling for BMI and age. Of all social comparisons, feeling ones best friend is thinner than yourself is the most detrimental to body ideal.

How to enhance nursing students' intention to use information technology: the first step before integrating it in nursing curriculum.

Today, in the 21st century, information technology has an important and critical role in the healthcare delivery system. Nursing educators already know and understand that they should integrate nursing informatics into the nursing curriculum to prepare future nurses for the new world of information technology. However, as of now, the core program of nursing studies in Israel does not put an emphasis on the skills required to properly use nursing informatics. The present research is the first step toward achieving this target by recognizing the importance of the human factor. The main goal is to examine the correlation between nursing students’ attitudes and a number of variables: self-efficacy, threat, challenge, and innovativeness. This quantitative study used a convenience sample of nursing students in a bachelor’s degree program at a large academic center in central Israel. Results show significant positive correlations between nursing students’ attitudes to computer use and self-efficacy, a sense of challenge in using a computer, a sense of threat in using a computer, and previous experience with computers. The insights of these results will benefit nursing educators by helping them find creative ways to expose the students to the world of information technology and to improve the quality of future nurses.

The relationship between work climate and nurse educators' use of information technology

UNLABELLED Understanding organizational behavior and the attitudes of individuals in organizations is crucial for policymakers and managers. Work climate is a major part of these constructs. The main goal of this study was to examine the perceptions of academic nurse educators about their work climate, concerning the use of information technology (IT), including examining a number of variables such as self-efficacy, innovativeness, attitudes, intention to use, and actual use of information technology. METHOD This study used a quantitative research design, using written and online surveys submitted to 109 academic nurse educators working at ten different academic nursing schools in Israel. RESULTS The relationship between work climate and actual use of IT was mediated by personality characteristics such as attitude toward using IT, self-efficacy, and innovativeness. Work climate positively predicted both self-efficacy and attitudes toward IT, but did not directly predict innovativeness and did not predict actual use. CONCLUSION Policymakers and managers should consider work climate and personality characteristics as important factors in their efforts to promote IT use in nursing. As a result, nurse educators would become better acquainted with new technologies, and their acceptance of IT would improve. The organization would benefit from a better work environment and from enhanced performance.

The Impact of Nursing Students’ Cultural Diversity on the Intention and Attitudes Toward the Use of Information Technology

This research highlights the evidences that: The greater the threat, the lower the attitude toward information technology is, and the greater the sense of challenge, the greater self-efficacy is. Innovativeness was found to be a behavioral intention predictor in two groups, secular Jews and Arabs. This study provides nurses and nurse educators with some valuable insights about how culture, religion, and education may influence nursing students’ attitudes toward information technology.

Integrating Information Technology’s competencies into academic nursing education–An action study

Abstract Today, in the digital age, we are committed to prepare the future nurse for the information technology-rich workplace, and to help them reducing the “shock reality” upon arriving at the clinical setting. The main aim of the study is to promote the knowledge of Information Competencies Technology among nurses’ educators and student. The method was an action research process that started by collecting the data—by literature review, nurses’ interviews and students’ survey, analyzing and interpreting the data, and developing a plan of action, including curriculum change for the students and workshops for the nurse educators. Two benefits were driven from this action: updating and developing academic courses and adopting pedagogic tools for nurses’ educators. In conclusion, the overarching theme of this project is the need for Information Technology to be integrated within the larger body of the nursing learning program, and its implication for educators and students.

The association between sexual orientation, susceptibility to social messages and disordered eating in men.

OBJECTIVE Much research points to higher levels of disordered eating and more negative body image in gay and bisexual men than in heterosexual men. The reasons for this difference, however, remain unclear. We hypothesized that disturbed body image and eating attitudes in gay and bisexual men would be partially explained by susceptibility to social messages. METHODS Two hundred and sixty-two men (203 heterosexual, 46 gay and 13 bisexual) between 18 and 35 years of age participated in the study. They completed measures of disordered eating, body image, internalization of attitudes toward appearance, and concern for appropriateness. In addition, they were asked to what extent they were influenced by ten advertisements, four that emphasized physical appearance, and six that did not. RESULTS As shown in previous research, gay and bisexual men reported higher levels of disordered eating and dissatisfaction with their bodies than heterosexual men. In addition, the gay and bisexual men were more susceptible than the heterosexual men to social messages, and reported being significantly more influenced than heterosexual men by advertisements focusing on physical appearance, but not by other advertisements. Susceptibility to social messages fully mediated the association between sexual orientation and disordered eating. DISCUSSION Results provide support for the hypothesis that sensitivity to social messages about appearance explains, at least partially, the link between sexual orientation and disordered eating in men.

The psychometric properties of the Retrospective Child Feeding Questionnaire in Hebrew

The objective of this study was to develop the Retrospective Child Feeding Questionnaire (RCFQ), and to assess its structural validity. In its original version, the CFQ was constructed to measure current practices of maternal feeding of children. For the present study, the CFQ was translated into Hebrew by translation, independent back-translation, and revision, and was then reworded to assess a retrospective assessment of maternal child feeding practices by adults. A large community sample of volunteers (N=406) was recruited and administered the RCFQ, and self-reported on body satisfaction, disordered eating, and body mass. The structural validity of the RCFQ was established by exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis for men and women. Some measure of construct validity is provided by correlational analysis. The RCFQ is structurally robust, and useful in assessing early influences on adult BMI, eating behavior, and body dissatisfaction.

Interpersonal theory dimensions facilitate posttraumatic growth among suicide-loss survivors: An attachment perspective

Abstract Many studies have highlighted the deleterious psychological impact of suicide on bereaved individuals. We examined the psychological processes facilitating posttraumatic growth (PTG) among 124 suicide-loss survivors, focusing on attachment styles, perceived burdensomeness, and thwarted belongingness. Securely attached individuals achieved higher PTG than insecurely attached individuals. Perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness both mediated and moderated the associations between attachment and PTG. Anxiously or avoidantly attached individuals who also had a high level of perceived burdensomeness were the least likely to achieve PTG. Thus, these individuals may derive particular benefit from attachment-based therapeutic interventions focusing on interpersonal relationships.

Attachment Styles and Posttraumatic Growth Among Suicide-Loss Survivors

Background and aims: The world loses approximately one million people to suicide every year, leaving behind many suicide-loss survivors, family members and friends, who are significantly affected by the traumatic loss. Yet some suicide-loss survivors not only manage to cope with the loss, but actually experience posttraumatic growth (PTG). To date, no studies have fully examined the psychological processes that underlie this personal positive change. We hypothesized that attachment style would predict PTG and this association would be mediated by self-disclosure and social support. Method: A community sample of 131 suicide-loss survivors (108 women), aged 18-70, self-reported on attachment style, self-disclosure, social support, and PTG. Results: Securely attached individuals scored highest on PTG compared with other attachment styles. A structural equation model confirmed that self-disclosure and social support mediated the association between attachment and PTG. Suicide-loss survivors with secure attachment tended to self-disclose more and to perceive greater support from others than did suicide-loss survivors with insecure attachment, thus enhancing their chances of PTG. Limitations: The sample comprised mostly female participants, and the findings may not be directly generalizable to male suicide-loss survivors. Conclusion: Our results suggest that different psychological interventions should be utilized for suicide-loss survivors with particular attachment styles. Psychotherapies aiming to modify internal working models may be useful for enhancing PTG among survivors characterized by insecure attachment styles.