RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a life-skills promotion program designed to improve body image satisfaction and global self-esteem, while reducing negative eating attitudes and behaviors and feelings of perfectionism, all of which have been identified as predisposing factors to disordered eating. METHOD: A total of 258 girls with a mean age of 11.8 years (intervention group = 182 and control group = 76) completed questionnaires before, and 1 week after, the six-session school-based program, and again 6 and 12 months later. RESULTS: The intervention was successful in improving body image satisfaction and global self-esteem and in reducing dieting attitude scores at post intervention only. The gains were not maintained at the 12-month follow-up. DISCUSSION: The need to assess the influence of health promotion programs on predisposing risk factors, compared with problem-based outcome measures, is discussed.
Asunto(s)
Actitud , Imagen Corporal , Conducta Alimentaria , Trastornos de Alimentación y de la Ingestión de Alimentos/prevención & control , Satisfacción Personal , Servicios de Salud Escolar/normas , Autoimagen , Adolescente , Índice de Masa Corporal , Niño , Femenino , Humanos , Personalidad , Evaluación de Programas y Proyectos de Salud , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
This study examines women's psychological responses to prenatal group genetic counseling, and to subsequent individualized risk counseling. All women (N=123) aged 35 and older underwent nuchal translucency screening (NTS), a prenatal ultrasound screening test. After group counseling, decisional conflict decreased significantly among those reporting at baseline having made a decision about invasive testing (t(222)=2.0, P=0.014) and for those who were uncertain (t(222)=5.74, P <0.0005). After receiving NT-adjusted risks, decisional conflict decreased further for those uncertain about testing at baseline (t(222)=4.64, P <0.0005). There was no change in risk perception and anxiety after group counseling. After NT-adjusted risks were communicated, risk perception decreased significantly (t(230)=5.02, P <0.0005), as did anxiety (t(115)=7.91, P <0.005). Despite reassuring NTS results, the uptake rate for prenatal invasive testing was 78.4%. Risk perception, anxiety, and decisional conflict decreased after individual counseling for reassuring NTS results, but the uptake of invasive testing remained high.