Preventing disordered eating : promoting healthy attitudes and behaviors : a school-based program
Year: 1997
Type: dissertation
Study design: Clinical Trial
Abstract: A primary prevention and education program aimed at preventing disordered . .eating and promoting healthy attitudes and behaviors was implemented in 13 grade five, Gx, and seven classes in eight urban primary schools.Ten classes , from three similar schools served as a no-treatment comparison group.The program consisted of six weekly sessions focusing on disordered eating, social pressures to be thin, harmful effects a i d myths about dieting and weight, coping \ with the influences of family and friends, healthy eating habits, and increasing v self-esteem.Questionnaires on-knowledge (KQ), body esteem (BES), body 4 satisfaction (BSM), dieting, gaining, arid maladaptive eating attitu'des and f t behaviors (ChEAT) were administered'to both groups prior to, following, and six months after the prevention program.The dependent measures were categorized into three primary content areas: Knowledge (KQ), Affective (BSM & BES), and Behavioral-Attitudinal (ChEAT, dieting, 8 gaining).Follow-upquestionnaires were given to seven (four treatment and three comparison) of the classes.Overall results indicated the program was successful and effective in 'P inducing change.Statistically significant ANCOVA values were obtained for the Cognitive, Affective, and Behavioral-Attitudinal domains at posttest.Further analysis revealed statistically significant ANCOVA values on the KQ, BES, -n , .Pteventhg Disordered Eating iv ChEAT, ChEAT factor 1, and the dieting scale.The proportiop of children scoring above the ChEAT cutoff criterion decreased in the treatment group from pretest to posttest, and remained stable and lower than the comparison group at follow-up.Intervention participants continued to demonstrate superior performance at follow-up on the Cognitive component, as shown by a statistically significant ANCOVA value on the KQ measure.A tendency in the positive .%directionat follow-up was-observed foitreatment children's scores on the ChEAT * @P and BES questionnaires.se values were not, however, statistically -.significant.Separate analysis of high risk students suggests changes in the positive direction for this sub-sample.At posttest, high risk treatment participants displayed significantly more knowledge and higher body esteem than comparison students.The present study provides strong support for the short-term effectiveness of the intervention.Long-term behavioral and attitudinal changes possibly could be further enhanced with periodic booster sessions or minor curriculum modifications.It is suggested that this and iimilar programs may serve as practical and feasible tools to combat the increasing prevalence of disordered eating and related disturbances in children.\
Author: Rafael David Richman
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W646750211