Noreen Stuckless

The effects of the ideal of female beauty on mood and body satisfaction

OBJECTIVE The present study examined changes in womens mood states resulting from their viewing pictures in fashion magazines of models who represent a thin ideal. METHOD Female university students completed the Profile of Mood States (POMS), the Body Parts Satisfaction Scale (BPSS), and the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI). They were then exposed to 20 slides; the experimental group (N = 51) viewed images of female fashion models and a control group (N = 67) viewed slides containing no human figures. All subjects then completed the POMS and the BPSS again. RESULTS Women were more depressed (R2 = 0.745, p < .05) and more angry (R2 = 0.73, p < .01) following exposure to slides of female fashion models. DISCUSSION Viewing images of female fashion models had an immediate negative effect on womens mood. This study, therefore, supports the hypothesis that media images do play a role in disordered eating.

Emotional abuse, self-blame, and self-silencing in women with irritable bowel syndrome.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of emotional abuse and two psychosocial constructs (self-blame and self-silencing) in a sample of women diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) relative to a comparison sample of women diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods: Women diagnosed with IBS (N = 25) were compared with women diagnosed with IBD (N = 25) on measures of history of abuse, self-blame, and self-silencing. Results: It was found that women in the IBS sample scored significantly higher on emotional abuse, self-blame, and self-silencing than did women in the IBD sample. These three variables were also found to be significantly intercorrelated in both the IBS and IBD samples. Finally, emotional abuse was significantly higher in IBS patients than in IBD patients beyond the differences accounted for by physical and/or sexual abuse history. Conclusions: These findings empirically demonstrate an association between IBS and emotional abuse, as well as a possible connection with psychosocial variables, that may mediate the connection between emotional abuse and functional bowel symptoms. We suggest that these variables be further evaluated in the context of clinically relevant research on IBS.

Cognitive-behavioral group therapy for patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

This article is divided into two parts, the first of which focuses on a general overview of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and provides a rationale for the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for IBS based on both theoretical and research perspectives. This section includes a critical review of CBT therapies for IBS and provides a model of CBT for IBS. The second section provides the clinician with practical information concerning the application of cognitive-behavioral group therapy for IBS. Possible scripts and case examples are incorporated into this section to highlight factors that may arise in working with IBS patients relative to other clinical groups. The second section also contains themes that are suggested content areas for group sessions. Contingent on the formulation of the presenting or emerging issues and goals, the order and inclusion of themes can be changed to fit the particular needs of a given group. Finally, this section provides initial preliminary data from a randomized controlled study that is suggestive of the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy for IBS.

The development of a cognitive scale for functional bowel disorders.

Objective The importance of psychosocial factors in patients with Functional Bowel Disorders (FBD) has been well-established. However, most psychosocial measures used in research with FBD patients were not designed or validated on this population. A recent international team report recommended that psychosocial measures be developed to increase our understanding and treatment of FBD. The purpose of this study was to develop a reliable and valid instrument designed specifically to assess cognitions of patients with FBD. Method An initial set of 204 scale items was generated from a large pool of thought diaries from patients diagnosed with FBD. Items were additionally refined using several methods, including consultation with a multidisciplinary team of international experts on FBD. The remaining 95 items were administered, along with a set of validating questionnaires, to a new sample of 75 FBD patients in Canada and the United States. Results The findings indicate that the final 25-item scale has high reliability (Cronbachs alpha = .93; inter-item correlation = .36); high concurrent criterion validity evidenced by the correlation of the scale with a global rating of life interference caused by bowel symptoms (r = .71; p < .001); acceptable convergent validity evidenced by the correlation of the scale with the Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale (r = .38; p < .01); high content validity and face validity; and minimal social desirability contamination (r = .15; NS). Conclusions The Cognitive Scale for Functional Bowel Disorders is a valid and reliable scale that can be used as an outcome measure in evaluating the efficacy of different forms of psychotherapeutic intervention for FBD, and can also serve as a helpful assessment tool for health professionals working with patients diagnosed with FBD.

The BRCA Self-Concept Scale: a new instrument to measure self-concept in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers.

Genetic testing for BRCA1/2 has psychosocial impacts including those related to views of personal health, sense of self and identity and body image. The centrality of a persons self‐concept in maintaining physical and psychosocial well‐being has been well recognized; however, to date research exploring altered self‐concept related to carrier knowledge is limited.

A supportive-expressive group intervention for women with a family history of breast cancer: results of a phase II study.

Background: Evidence suggests that there are significant psychological and behavioural sequelae associated with having a family history of breast cancer (BC) which can interfere with comprehension of risk estimates.

The relationship between childhood sexual abuse, complex post-traumatic stress disorder and alexithymia in two outpatient samples: examination of women treated in community and institutional clinics

ABSTRACT Relationships between trauma variables, complex post-traumatic stress disorder (complex PTSD), affect dysregulation, dissociation, somatization, and alexithymia were studied in 70 women with early-onset sexual abuse treated in community-based private (n = 25) or clinic outpatient settings (n = 45). Measures were the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 and the Psychological Trauma Assessment Program. Compared with the community sample, the clinic sample (1) met diagnostic criteria for both lifetime and current complex PTSD; (2) showed correlations between current affect dysregulation, dissociation, and somatization with alexithymia; and (3) higher levels of alexithymia. Results suggest the clinic sample continued to experience current forms of suffering, risk, and vulnerability associated with early-onset sexual trauma. The findings may have implications regarding types of treatment available in community versus clinic settings.

Features of eating disorders in patients with irritable bowel syndrome

The relationship between characteristics of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and eating disorders (ED) was investigated in a clinical sample of 43 female and 17 male IBS patients who completed the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI). A diagnosis of IBS was generally unrelated to the Body Dissatisfaction, Perfectionism, and Ineffectiveness subscales of the EDI, but symptom severity was correlated with Perfectionism and Ineffectiveness. Severe bouts of vomiting were significantly associated with desires for lower body weight and reported binge-purge behaviors and cognitions measured by the Bulimia subscale of the EDI. Results suggest the need for a more comprehensive understanding of both types of illness as well as a possible framework for future empirical work.

Feminist Issues in Research Methodology: The Development of a Cognitive Scale

Feminist research methodology is a subject that is often under wide debate, with both theorists and researchers offering various guidelines for conducting feminist research. Current writings in the field suggest that feminist research is moving towards pluralistic models that acknowledge and take into account the fact that feminism is not monolithic in its politics or philosophy. However, a review of the literature suggests that, within this pluralistic framework, there are some common principles of feminist research that cut across the different methodologies used in social science. The focus of this article is to discuss these common principles of feminist research and illustrate how they guided the development of a cognitive scale for functional bowel disorders.

A randomized controlled trial of a supportive expressive group intervention for women with a family history of breast cancer

Women with a family history of breast cancer (BC) often overestimate their BC risk. Heightened psychological distress may interfere with risk comprehension and screening adherence. The primary purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of a 12‐week manual‐based supportive‐expressive (SE) group intervention for this population.