Flinders University

About: Flinders University is a education organization based out in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 12033 authors who have published 32831 publications receiving 973172 citations. The organization is also known as: Flinders University of South Australia.

Appearance Culture in Nine- to 12-Year-Old Girls: Media and Peer Influences on Body Dissatisfaction.

Abstract: Little research has investigated sociocultural factors in the development of body dissatisfaction in preadolescent girls. This study examined the combined influence of media and peer factors. The participants were 100 girls aged nine to 12 years. The girls completed questionnaire measures of media exposure (television and magazines), peer influences (appearance norms, appearance conversations), internalization and body dissatisfaction. Their height and weight were also measured. About half (49 percent) of the girls displayed a desire to be thinner. The influence of sociocultural factors was confirmed in addition to biological determinants, such as body mass index. Their exposure to appearance-focused media was not directly related to their body dissatisfaction, but was indirectly related via their conversations about appearance among peers. The path analysis showed that peer appearance conversations demonstrated a significant relationship with internalization of thin ideals, which was, in turn, significantly related to body dissatisfaction. Like their adolescent counterparts, preadolescent girls are also exposed to appearance ideals presented in the media and manifested among peers. The results provided evidence for the existence of an ‘appearance culture’ consisting of interrelated media and peer influences among girls as young as nine to 12 years of age.

Voxel-based computational models of real human anatomy: a review.

Abstract: Computational models of human anatomy are mathematical representations of human anatomy designed to be used in dosimetry calculations. They have been used in dosimetry calculations for radiography, radiotherapy, nuclear medicine, radiation protection and to investigate the effects of low frequency electromagnetic fields. Tomographic medical imaging techniques have allowed the construction of digital three-dimensional computational models based on the actual anatomy of individual humans. These are called voxel models, tomographic models or phantoms. Their usefulness lies in their faithful representation of human anatomy and the flexibility they afford by being able to be scaled in size to match the required human dimensions. Segmenting medical images in order to make voxel models is very time-consuming so semi-automatic segmentation techniques are being developed. Some 21 whole or partial body models currently exist and more are being prepared. These models are listed and discussed.

A longitudinal study of the effects of employment and unemployment on school-leavers

Abstract: The effects of employment and unemployment were investigated in a longitudinal study involving large samples of school-leavers from State high schools in metropolitan Adelaide. The study was also designed to control for possible testing and societal effects. A wide range of variables was investigated that included measures of self-concept (perceived competence, positive attitude, depressive affect, power, activity, and anger), values (desired skill-utilization, variety, influence, employment value, and Protestant work ethic), affect (stress symptoms, life satisfaction, unemployment disappointment), job need, job expectancy, external locus of control, unemployment attributions, academic potential, and social class. Results showed that unemployment led to decreases in perceived competence, activity, and life satisfaction and increases in depressive affect. Unemployment also led to an increased tendency to blame youth unemployment on factors relating to economic recession and a decreased tendency to blame it on lack of motivation on the part of the unemployed; employment had the reverse effect on these unemployment attributions. Some differences between the subsequently employed and unemployed were also present when they were at school. Sex differences were obtained on a number of variables.

"Strong beats skinny every time": Disordered eating and compulsive exercise in women who post fitspiration on Instagram.

Abstract: Objective Fitspiration is a recent Internet trend designed to motivate people to eat healthily and to exercise. The aim of the study was to investigate disordered eating and exercise in women who post fitspiration on Instagram. Method Participants were 101 women who post fitspiration images on Instagram and a comparison group of 102 women who post travel images. Both groups completed measures of disordered eating and compulsive exercise. Results Women who post fitspiration images scored significantly higher on drive for thinness, bulimia, drive for muscularity, and compulsive exercise. Almost a fifth (17.5%) of these women were at risk for diagnosis of a clinical eating disorder, compared to 4.3% of the travel group. Compulsive exercise was related to disordered eating in both groups, but the relationship was significantly stronger for women who post fitspiration images. Discussion For some women, posting fitspiration images on Instagram may signify maladaptive eating and exercise behaviors. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2017; 50:76–79)