Showing papers by "Tracey D. Wade published in 2005"

Individual differences in male body-image: An examination of self-objectification in recreational body builders

Abstract: Objectives Male bodybuilders have been found previously to have higher levels of disordered eating and body-image disturbance than do other men. This study investigated whether objectification theory (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997) could be used to explain these observed differences in male body-image. Design A cross-sectional, self-report design was used. Methods Three samples of men were recruited: bodybuilders (N = 31), weightlifters (N = 17), and non-athletic controls (N = 35). Participants completed a questionnaire containing measures of self-objectification, self-surveillance, body shame, appearance anxiety, and four outcomes: body dissatisfaction, drive for muscularity, bulimia, and depression. Results As predicted, bodybuilders had significantly higher levels of self-objectification than weightlifters and controls, and higher levels of body dissatisfaction and drive for muscularity than controls. Overall, the relationships between self-objectification and the outcome variables, and self-surveillance and the outcome variables, were mediated by appearance anxiety. Conclusions . Bodybuilding is associated with outcomes that suggest it may not result in greater overall health for men. It was concluded that objectification theory provides a useful framework for examining body-image differences in men.

Predicting worries about health after breast cancer surgery

Abstract: Given the widespread worries about future health in women with breast cancer, it is important to understand the predictors of such fear so that possible avenues for intervention can be formulated. In this longitudinal study of 44 women who had undergone breast cancer surgery, we look at demographic variables, cancer and treatment related symptoms, and denial coping measured post-surgery and their ability to predict future health fears at 6-weeks and 12-weeks post-surgery. At both follow-up periods, around 1 in 5 women had strong worries about their future health, and post-surgery future health fears significantly predicted future health fears. In a hierarchical multiple regression, controlling for post-surgery health fears, future health fears at both follow-up periods were predicted only by denial coping. Cross-lag analyses suggested that these relationships were causal. Findings suggest that denial coping is a powerful predictor of future health fears, with this relationship growing stronger over time. Future research should investigate which interventions can decrease denial, and whether this then decreases health fears in the aftermath of breast cancer surgery. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The impact of breast cancer on the lives of middle-aged women: results from the Australian longitudinal study of women's health.

Abstract: This article investigated the impact of breast cancer (BC) in middle-aged Australian women (45-50 years). Two waves of data collected 2 years apart from a longitudinal survey of 12,177 women identified 3 groups: (a) 11,933 (98%) who reported never having had BC, (b) 181 (1.5%) who reported a diagnosis of BC at Time 1, and (c) 63 (0.5%) who reported onset of BC between Time 1 and Time 2. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to compare the 3 groups. Women with recent onset of BC experienced significant changes across a range of functioning compared with the other 2 groups. Compared with women with no BC, women with longer established onset of BC had significantly worse health and social outcomes, but these were associated with small effect sizes. Both groups of women with BC reported less impact on mental and emotional health than on other areas of functioning.

Risk factors for pregnancy and childbearing in single young women: Evidence from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health

Abstract: This study investigated psychosocial predictors of early pregnancy and childbearing in single young women, consistent with the Eriksonian developmental perspective. Two mail-out surveys assessing reproductive behaviour and sociodemographic, education/competence, psychosocial well-being, and aspiration factors were completed 4 years apart by 2635 young women, aged 18 to 20 when first surveyed. Young women in the emerging adulthood'' developmental period were selected from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health. Longitudinally, lower investment in education over low-status paid work, experiencing unemployment, greater psychosocial distress, stress and alcohol use, and high family aspirations combined with low vocational aspirations were risk factors for early single pregnancy and childbearing. Several mediational relationships also existed between these predictor variables. It was concluded that psychosocial factors play an important role in understanding early pregnancy and childbearing in single young Australian women, and that the findings provide some support for investigating early pregnancy and childbearing from an Eriksonian developmental perspective.

Copyright © The British Psychological Society Unauthorised use and reproduction in any form (including the internet and other electronic means) is prohibited without prior permission from the Society. Individual differences in male body-image: An examination of self-objectification in recreational body builders

Abstract: OBJECTIVES Male bodybuilders have been found previously to have higher levels of disordered eating and body-image disturbance than do other men. This study investigated whether objectification theory (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997) could be used to explain these observed differences in male body-image. DESIGN A cross-sectional, self-report design was used. METHODS Three samples of men were recruited: bodybuilders (N = 31), weightlifters (N = 17), and non-athletic controls (N = 35). Participants completed a questionnaire containing measures of self-objectification, self-surveillance, body shame, appearance anxiety, and four outcomes: body dissatisfaction, drive for muscularity, bulimia, and depression. RESULTS As predicted, bodybuilders had significantly higher levels of self-objectification than weightlifters and controls, and higher levels of body dissatisfaction and drive for muscularity than controls. Overall, the relationships between self-objectification and the outcome variables, and self-surveillance and the outcome variables, were mediated by appearance anxiety. CONCLUSIONS Bodybuilding is associated with outcomes that suggest it may not result in greater overall health for men. It was concluded that objectification theory provides a useful framework for examining body-image differences in men.

Prospective predictors of mental health after the development of breast cancer in middle-aged women

Abstract: This paper investigated the prospective predictors of mental health after breast cancer diagnosis among mid-aged Australian women (initially aged 45–50 years). Two waves of data collected 2 years apart from a longitudinal population-based survey of 12,177 women identified a group of 63 women who reported onset of BC between T1 (T1) and Time 2 (T2). The measures of interest in the current analysis were the sub-scales of the SF-36, a standard self-report measure of health-related quality of life, and three demographic variables (having a partner, speaking English at home, and having paid employment). Multivariate regression analysis with T2 mental health as the outcome variable revealed that both T1 mental health and bodily pain contributed significantly to mental health at T2, with mental health being the greatest contributor. It was concluded that the experience of breast cancer is not damaging to mental health per se, but such a life stressor is likely to impact most on the mental health of wome...

Chapter 8 – Eating Disorders

Abstract: Publisher Summary The chapter examines eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and eating disorders that do not meet strict diagnostic criteria, referred to as eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS) or atypical disorders. Siblings, because of differential environmental influences—such as peer relationships and birth order—may experience a parental divorce differently. Thus, a non-shared environment can include a family environment variable. Complex traits like eating disorders are understood to be influenced by many genes and many specific environmental factors. While a variety of psychopathologies are more likely to occur in people with eating disorders than people without eating disorders, such evidence is not sufficient to indicate the influence of a heritable temperament that produces vulnerability to eating disorders. Casual observation of the eating disorder literature would suggest that family environment is a major contributor to the development of eating disorders. Childhood adversities predictive of disordered eating include physical neglect, sexual abuse, low paternal affection, low paternal communication, and low paternal time spent with the child. Maladaptive paternal behavior was uniquely associated with risk for eating disorders in offsprings when controlling for maladaptive maternal behavior, childhood maltreatment, and other co-occurring childhood adversities.

Health psychology in action: Psycho-oncology

Abstract: Health Psychology and behavioural medicine have had a long history of representation within the Australian Psychological Society, with a series of behavioural medicine conferences held for the pres...