Breathing life into social emotional learning programs: A Bio-Psycho-Social approach to risk reduction and positive youth development.

INTRODUCTION: Over one-third of US adolescents engage in health risk and problem behaviors. Additionally, significant percentages of problem-free youth aren't flourishing. Left unaddressed, the lifetime mental/physical health and financial burdens may be substantial. Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and Positive Youth Development (PYD) programs have proliferated to address the drivers of adaptive versus risk behaviors. Research suggests SEL/PYD program outcomes can be improved by adding techniques that physiologically induce calmness, yet few studies exist. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial of 79 urban eighth-graders examined a standardized bio-psycho-social program, SKY Schools, which incorporates a physiologically calming component: controlled yogic breathing. RESULTS: Repeated-measures ANOVAs demonstrated that compared to controls, SKY graduates exhibited significant improvements in emotion regulation, planning and concentration, and distractibility. After 3 months, significant improvements were evidenced in emotion regulation, planning and concentration, identity formation, and aggressive normative beliefs. CONCLUSION: SEL/PYD programs may benefit by incorporating biologically-calming techniques to enhance well-being and prevent risk/problem behaviors.

Stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination of women with anorexia nervosa.

Limited research indicates that public attitudes toward individuals with eating disorders are moderately negative. The present study examined specific forms of stigmatisation attributed to individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN). Eighty female participants recruited from an undergraduate institution completed questionnaires assessing stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination of four target individuals: a woman with AN, depression, schizophrenia and mononucleosis. AN was considered to result more from lack of social support and biological factors than poor living habits. Characteristics attributed to targets were less positive for AN than the targets with schizophrenia and mononucleosis; participants reported greater discomfort interacting with the target with AN compared to the targets with depression and mononucleosis. Having actual contact with an individual with AN related to a positive predicted outcome of and comfort in interacting with the target with AN. Findings support the existence of stigma toward individuals with AN. Future research should examine means of reducing stigma.

Stigmatization of anorexia nervosa.

OBJECTIVE: The current study examined the perceptions about an individual with anorexia nervosa (AN) relative to perceptions about a healthy person and a person with another mental or nonmental illness. METHOD: Ninety-one participants recruited from the community completed questionnaires targeting perceptions about 4 individuals: a healthy person, a person with asthma, a person with schizophrenia, and a person with AN. RESULTS: Evaluations of personal characteristics were most negative for persons with AN. Participants believed the person with AN was most to blame for his/her condition, was best able to pull him/herself together if he/she wanted to, and was most acting this way for attention and that biological factors were least relevant in developing the illness. CONCLUSION: Negative perceptions of a person with AN fell into stigma categories of self-attribution and responsibility. These attitudes may contribute to reluctance to seek treatment among individuals with AN.