Prevalence of serologic markers of hepatitis B and D viruses in children of the Caiabi and Txucarram?e tribes from the Indian Reservation of Xingu, central Brazil

Obese individuals with binge eating disorder (BED) differ from obese non-binge eating (NBE) individuals in a number of clinically relevant ways. This study examined attitudinal responses to various measures of body image in women seeking obesity treatment, by comparing NBE participants (n = 80) to those with BED (n = 48). It was hypothesized that women with BED would demonstrate greater attitudinal disturbance of body image compared to NBE individuals. It was further hypothesized that significant differences between groups would remain after statistically controlling for degree of depression. Consistent with the primary hypothesis, BED participants reported significantly increased attitudinal disturbance in body dissatisfaction and size perception compared to NBE participants. Although shared variance was observed between measures of depression and body image on some items, several aspects of increased body image disturbance remained after statistically controlling for depression. Treatment implications and recommendations for future research are discussed.     

Sex differences and adolescent depression.

This study investigates the role of certain psychosocial variables—sex, age, body image/self-esteem, self-consciousness, stressful life events, and the degree to which an individual identifies with the cultural stereotype of masculinity—as correlates and antecedents to depression in adolescents and explores possible intraindividual mediators of the stress–depression relationship in adolescents. A battery of self-report measures was administered to public high school students in Grades 9–12 in their classrooms at two different times 1 month apart. Female adolescents reported more depressive symptoms, self-consciousness, stressful recent events, feminine attributes, and negative body image and self-esteem; no age effects were obtained. Results suggest a model of adolescent depression in which body image/self-esteem and stressful recent events are significant contributors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Prevalence and correlates of eating disordered behaviors among undergraduate women.

Measures of weight management habits, body image, self-esteem, and degree of endorsement of sociocultural norms regarding thinness were administered to 682 undergraduate women. The 643 nonanorexic, nonobese subjects were then classified into one of six categories representing severity along an eating-behaviors continuum. The results indicated a high prevalence of both dieting and bingeing behaviors. Although only 3% were classified as bulimic, 61% were classified as having some intermediate form of eating-behavior problem. Only 33% of the subjects reported what could be considered normal eating habits. The degree of disturbed eating was strongly correlated with lowered self-esteem, more negative body image, greater tendency to endorse sociocultural beliefs regarding the desirability of female thinness, obsessive thoughts concerning weight and appearance, and interference of weight and appearance concerns with other life domains. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms in obese and normal weight binge eaters

OBJECTIVES: Disturbances in gastrointestinal function may result from disordered eating and may lead to increases in gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. We compared GI symptoms in obese and non-obese binge eaters and non-binge eaters. METHODS: One hundred nineteen obese and 77 normal-weight females completed a questionnaire on bowel symptoms and binge eating behaviors for the previous 3 months. Based on binge behaviors and body mass index (> 30 kg/m2), individuals were grouped as obese binge eaters (n = 73), obese non-binge eaters (n = 43), non-obese binge eaters (n = 14), and normal-weight controls (n = 61). RESULTS: Obese binge eaters reported more upper GI symptoms than normal controls or obese non-binge eaters (p < 0.001). Compared with normal controls, nausea, vomiting, and bloating was 2-4 times more prevalent in both binge eating groups. Indigestion was more prevalent in both obese groups. Obese binge eaters reported more lower GI symptoms than normal-weight controls (p < 0.05). Binge eating in both weight groups was associated with more frequent abdominal pain and dyschezia. Obesity was associated with more frequent constipation, diarrhea, straining, and flatus, whether or not subjects reported binge eating. Chi-square showed a significant association between obesity, binge eating, and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, using the Manning criteria. CONCLUSIONS: Specific GI symptoms were associated with binge eating and obesity. Overall, symptoms were more prevalent and more severe in obese binge eaters. The high prevalence of GI symptoms in obese patients who indulge in binge eating should be considered in their evaluation and treatment.     

Assessment of body image dissatisfaction in obese women: Specificity, severity, and clinical significance.

This study assessed the specificity, severity, and clinical significance of body image dissatisfaction in 79 obese women using the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Examination—Self-Report (J. C. Rosen & J. Reiter, 1996). The vast majority of obese women demonstrated body image dissatisfaction related to their obesity, with almost half reporting the greatest dissatisfaction with their waist or abdomen. On average, they reported significantly more body image dissatisfaction than did 43 nonobese controls. The 2 groups did not differ on self-reported symptoms of depression or self-esteem. Body image dissatisfaction correlated significantly with reports of depressive symptoms and lower self-esteem but was not correlated with body mass index. Results are discussed in terms of the role of body image dissatisfaction in understanding and treating obese individuals. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The effects of tooth loss on the anatomy of the maxilla]

OBJECTIVES: To compare prevalence rates of weight-control behaviors among adolescents with and without chronic illness and to explore the role of familial and other social factors on associations between disordered eating and chronic illness. DESIGN AND SETTING: Survey conducted in public schools in Connecticut. PARTICIPANTS: A representative statewide population-based sample of 9343 7th-, 9th-, and 11th-grade public school students, of whom 1021 reported a chronic illness. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Disordered eating (vomiting, diet pills, and laxatives), dieting, and exercise for weight control; chronic illness status; family structure, family communication, parental caring, parental monitoring, parental expectations, peer support, and sexual and physical abuse. RESULTS: Adolescents with chronic illness were at greater risk for disordered eating than youth without chronic illness, after controlling for sociodemographic variables (girls: odds ratio, 1.59 [95% confidence interval, 1.19-2.14]; boys: odds ratio, 2.22 [95% confidence interval, 1.49-3.32]). Adolescents with chronic illness were less likely to come from 2-parent families; reported lower levels of family communication, parental caring, and parental expectations; and reported more sexual and physical abuse than youth without chronic illness. Male adolescents with chronic illness were more likely to report low peer support and low parental monitoring. Most of these familial-social factors were also associated with an increased prevalence of disordered eating. After familial-social factors were controlled for, however, associations between disordered eating and chronic illness remained statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents with chronic illness are at greater risk for disordered eating behaviors than youth without chronic illness. Factors other than the familial-social factors assessed in this study may be contributing to this increased risk. In the clinical setting, youth with chronic illness need to be screened for disordered eating and familial and other social concerns.     

Caretaking behaviors by adolescent children of mothers with and without a history of depression.

In a sample of 72 mothers with and without a history of depression and their adolescent children, maternal depression history, current maternal depressive symptoms, intrusive and withdrawn parental behavior, and adolescent caretaking behaviors were examined as predictors of adjustment in these youth. Two types of caretaking behaviors were examined: emotional (e.g., caring for a parent's emotional distress) and instrumental (e.g., looking after younger siblings). Although adolescents of mothers with and without a history of depression were comparable on levels of both types of caretaking, caretaking was associated with adolescents' reports of anxiety–depression and mothers' reports of social competence only for adolescents of mothers with a history of depression. Moreover, regression models showed that among children of mothers with a history of depression, emotional, but not instrumental, caretaking was related to adolescents' anxiety–depression symptoms and social competence after controlling for current parental depressive symptoms and stressful parenting behaviors. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An Interactive Psychoeducational Intervention for Women at Risk of Developing an Eating Disorder.

This study evaluated a synchronous Internet-delivered intervention (chat room) for improving eating habits and body image in college-age women at risk for developing an eating disorder. Sixty at-risk women (mean age = 18.9, SD = 2.4; 65.0% Caucasian, 19% Latino/Hispanic, 8% Asian/Pacific Islander, 3% African American, 5% other; mean body mass index = 25.6, SD = 5.7) were randomly assigned to intervention (n = 30) or control (n = 30) groups. Once a week for 8 weeks, participants used a private chat room for a 1-hr moderated discussion focused on improving body image and eating behaviors. Additional treatment components included psychoeducation, asynchronous support, homework, and summaries. Assessments were conducted at baseline, posttreatment, and 10 weeks after posttreatment. Participants indicated high satisfaction with the intervention mode. Intervention participants significantly reduced eating pathology and improved self-esteem over controls at follow-up. These findings suggest that synchronous, Internet-delivered programs are efficacious and have potential to reduce problematic attitudes and behaviors that may lead to eating disorders among college-age women. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Illicit substance use among adolescents: a matrix of prospective predictors

This paper reviews findings from 58 prospective studies of illicit substance use (ISU) among adolescents. It arranges 384 findings according to three types of influence (viz., social, attitudinal, and intrapersonal) and four levels of influence (viz., ultimate, distal, proximal, and immediate). The bulk of evidence reconfirms the importance of several predictors of ISU (e.g., intentions and prior substance-related behavior, friendship patterns and peer behaviors, absence of supportive parents, psychological temperament), reveals that a few variables thought to be well-established predictors may not be (e.g., parental behaviors, parental permissiveness, depression, low self-esteem), and uncovers several variables where findings were either sparse or inconsistent (e.g., the role of public policies concerning ISU, mass media depictions of ISU, certain parenting styles, affective states, perceptions of parental disapproval for ISU, and substance-specific refusal skills). Directions for future research are discussed.     

Psychological adjustment of adolescents attempting to lose or gain weight.

The psychological adjustment of high school boys and girls who were trying to reduce or gain weight was compared in a large sample. Reducers of both sexes and male gainers exhibited lower physical self-esteem. Girls who were trying to change weight in either direction showed depression and lower global self-esteem, but male reducers and gainers did not differ on these measures. Restraint Scale scores for girls were predicted by body image, weight variables, depression, and social anxiety; restraint for boys was predicted by body image and weight variables only. Thus, the psychological correlates of weight-changing efforts are more extensive in girls. The adolescent's decision to gain or lose weight may be brought on by his/her psychological adjustment as well as by the prevailing social pressure. Alternately, a weight-change attempt may be a risk factor for psychopathology, especially for girls. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Bulimia and binge eating in college women: A comparison of personality and behavioral characteristics.

Assessed 9 behavioral and personality characteristics—restraint, binge eating, high self-expectations, demand for approval, body attitude, assertion, dating, self-esteem, and depression—that have been implicated in studying the onset of bulimia. Ss were 30 women who fulfilled an operationalized definition of the DSM-III criteria for bulimia (bulimics), 22 women who reported binge eating 8 or more times per month but did not fulfill the criteria for bulimia (binge eaters), and 28 women who did not binge eat (controls). Ss completed measures that included the Beck Depression Inventory, a self-esteem index, and the short form of the Personality Attributes Questionnaire. In comparison to controls, bulimics were more depressed and had lower self-esteem, poorer body image, higher self-expectations, higher need for approval, greater restraint, and higher binge-eating scores. Binge eaters exhibited higher restraint and binge-eating scores than controls. Bulimics and binge eaters differed significantly on all but a few variables. Results suggest that treatment for bulimics should extend beyond the disturbed eating pattern and that the distinction between binge eating and bulimia is an important one. Some empirical support for the DSM-III definition of bulimia was found. (31 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Parental behaviors and adolescents' achievement goals at the beginning of middle school: Emotional problems as potential mediators.

Recent literature on the determinants of academic motivation has shown that parenting and emotions are central elements in understanding students' achievement goals. The authors of this study set out to examine the predictive relationship between parental behaviors during the last year of elementary school and adolescents' achievement goals at the end of their first year of middle school. Manifestations of anxiety and depression in Grade 6 were examined as explanatory mechanisms for this relationship. A total of 498 early adolescents participated in the study. The results of structural equation modeling analyses demonstrated that parental involvement predicted mastery goals, whereas parental control predicted performance goals among these adolescents. This relationship was mediated by the adolescents' symptoms of anxiety. These results underscore the need for educators and clinicians to consider parental behaviors and emotional problems among elementary school students when seeking to understand the behaviors and learning strategies adopted by these students in middle school. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Suicidal thinking among adolescents with a history of attempted suicide

OBJECTIVE: To examine the risk of suicidal plans and ideation, depression, and other factors (low self-esteem, loneliness, fatalism, pessimism) among adolescents with a lifetime history of attempted suicide. METHOD: A self-administered questionnaire was used in a school-based survey of five middle schools (grades 6 through 8) enrolling 6,400 students. Usable questionnaires were obtained from 5,423 (85.3%). Data were obtained on a wide range of constructs including recent and lifetime suicide attempts, recent and lifetime suicide plans, recent ideation, symptoms of DSM-IV major depression, self-esteem, pessimism, loneliness, and fatalism. RESULTS: Data on crude prevalence showed thoughts about death, wishing to be dead, thoughts of suicide, and suicide plans were all significantly higher among youths with a history of attempts. Suicidal thinking was related to being more lonely, more fatalistic, and more pessimistic, and to less self-esteem, in addition to depression and a history of attempts. Multivariate analyses revealed the strongest factors associated with current suicidal thinking were history of attempts (odds ratio [OR] = 3.50), depression (OR = 5.34), and recent life stress (OR = 2.64). Compared with youths with none of the factors examined, those with six or more were at extreme risk (OR = 67.87). CONCLUSIONS: The strong association between history of suicide attempts, current ideation, and depression indicates that past suicide attempts occur in the context of other signs of psychosocial dysfunction. Given the paucity of epidemiological data on the natural history of suicidal behaviors among youths, more epidemiological studies of the antecedents and consequences of the range of suicidal behaviors among children and adolescents are needed. Given the high risk of subsequent suicidal behaviors by youths who have attempted but not completed suicide, this constitutes a high-risk population on which future research should focus.     

Racial identity, academic achievement, and the psychological well-being of economically disadvantaged adolescents.

The relation between racial identity and personal psychological functioning was examined within the framework of the "racelessness" construct proposed by Fordham and Ogbu (S. Fordham, 1988; S. Fordham & J. U. Ogbu, 1986). These researchers have proposed that academically successful African American students achieve their success by adopting behaviors and attitudes that distance them from their culture of origin, resulting in increased feelings of depression, anxiety, and identity confusion. Studies 1 and 2 describe the development of the Racelessness Scale (RS) designed to test these assumptions. Study 2 also investigated Race?×?Achievement level differences in students' responses to the RS. In Study 3, correlations between the RS and measures of depression, self-efficacy, anxiety, alienation, and collective self-esteem were assessed. The pattern of results in Study 2 suggest that the behaviors and attitudes described by Fordham and Ogbu are common to high-achieving adolescents and not specific to African Americans. However, racial differences in the pattern of associations between the RS and measures of depression suggest that racelessness may have important psychological consequences for African American adolescents. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cisplatin-induced inhibition of p34cdc2 is abolished by 5-fluorouracil

This paper attempts to establish whether dissatisfaction with the artificial limb and/or body image relate to achieved mobility following lower limb amputation in established limb wearers. Patients attending limb fitting clinics (n = 107, 62% male, mean time from amputation 13.9 years; range 1-54) participated. The measures were a specially designed Attitude to Artificial Limbs Questionnaire, a Body Image Questionnaire adapted from an eating disorders instrument including reference to body shape, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Harold Wood Stanmore Mobility Scale. The rehabilitation physician rated prosthetic suitability on a Numerical Rating Scale. The results showed patients were moderately satisfied with their artificial limb, had little experience of body image disruption or distress and there was no overall relationship between these variables and mobility. However, those with a more negative body image were more anxious and in younger patients who sustained more traumatic than vascular amputations, the correlation between body image and mobility was significant, anxiety was higher and physician satisfaction with the prosthesis was lower. It is concluded that body image disruption, anxiety and depression are not common in established limb wearers except in young people with traumatic amputations.     

Anxiety, restraint, and eating behavior.

Hypothesized that individual differences in eating behavior based on the distinction between obese and normal Ss could be demonstrated within a population of normal Ss classified as to the extent of restraint chronically exercised with respect to eating. Ss were 42 female college students. Restrained Ss resembled the obese behaviorally, and unrestrained Ss resembled normals. This demonstration was effected in the context of a test of the psychosomatic hypothesis of obesity. Results indicate that although some individuals may eat more when anxious, there is little empirical support for the notion that eating serves to reduce anxiety. An explanation for this apparent inconsistency is offered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Body image and strategies to lose weight and increase muscle among boys and girls.

This study examined factors that influence body image and strategies to either lose weight or increase muscle among children. Participants were 237 boys and 270 girls. Body mass index (BMI), body dissatisfaction, cognitions and behaviors to both lose weight and increase muscles, as well as self-esteem and positive and negative affect, were evaluated. Self-esteem was associated with body satisfaction, positive affect predicted strategies to lose weight and increase muscles, and negative affect predicted body dissatisfaction and cognitions to lose weight and increase muscles. Boys were more likely to focus on changing muscles. Respondents with higher BMIs were more focused on losing weight but not muscle. The discussion focuses on health risk behaviors related to eating and exercise among children. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychopathology of eating disorders: A controlled comparison of bulimic, obese, and normal subjects.

15 bulimic females (mean age 20.8 yrs), 15 obese females (mean age 21.4 yrs), and 15 normal female controls (mean age 21.6 yrs) were administered the MMPI, the SCL-90, the Beck Depression Inventory, and a body image assessment. Results show that bulimics evidenced significantly more psychopathology than did the normal and obese Ss. In particular, bulimics were found to be more depressed, more anxious, and generally more neurotic and impulsive. Bulimics also evidenced a distorted body image in that they perceived themselves as significantly larger and desired to be significantly smaller than did height- and weight-matched controls. Bulimic and obese Ss showed some similarities in eating habits and psychopathology, especially regarding obsessiveness, impulsivity, guilt, preoccupation, and alienation. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Adolescent Adjustment Before and After HIV-Related Parental Death.

The impact of HIV-related parental death on 414 adolescents was examined over a period of 6 years. The adjustment of bereaved adolescents was compared over 4 time periods relative to parental death and was also compared with the adjustment of nonbereaved adolescents. Bereaved adolescents had significantly more emotional distress, negative life events, and contact with the criminal justice system than nonbereaved youths; these behaviors did not remain significantly higher after parental death. Depressive symptoms and passive problem solving increased soon after parental death, as compared with nonbereaved adolescents. One year subsequent to parental death, depression and passive problem solving were similar to the levels of nonbereaved peers. Only sexual risk behaviors increased following parental death. These results suggest the importance of early family intervention soon after parental HIV diagnosis, prior to parental death, and sustained over time. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Body Investment Scale: Construction and validation of a body experience scale.

A new measure of emotional investment in the body is presented. The Body Investment Scale (BIS) pertains especially to self-destructive behavior and can be used to study a variety of normal and pathological behaviors. Studies 1 and 2 describe the construction of the BIS, factor analysis, and a group comparison (suicidal and nonsuicidal inpatients and normal adolescents). Study 3 tested the relationship between the BIS, physical anhedonia, depression, and suicidal tendencies. Study 4 examined the relationship between the BIS, perceived early care, self-esteem, and suicidal tendencies. The BIS consists of four internally reliable factors (body image feelings and attitudes, comfort in touch, body care, and body protection). The construct validity hypotheses were confirmed. The relevance of the BIS to self-destructive behavior and related processes is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)