Body dissatisfaction and disordered eating attitudes among adolescents from Portugal and Spain / Insatisfacción corporal y actitudes alimentarias alteradas en adolescentes de Portugal y España

Cross-cultural studies comparing eating attitudes among adolescents from southern-European countries are scarce. We aimed to compare body dissatisfaction, disordered-eating attitudes, awareness and internalisation of the unrealistic-body-ideal, self-esteem, perfectionism and impulsivity among adolescents from Spain and Portugal. Participants were 249 Spanish and 206 Portuguese adolescents (51.2% girls) aged 12-15 (M= 13.3 years, SD= 0.6). A 2 × 2 (country × sex) MANOVA was conducted for each self-reported measure. Girls scored higher on awareness and internalisation of the unrealistic-body-ideal, body-dissatisfaction, disordered-eating attitudes and lower on self-esteem than boys did. Regarding the country, Portuguese adolescents scored higher than Spaniards on eating disorder attitudes, impulsivity and perfectionism. Our findings show significant differences between country and gender, highlighting the importance of specific gender-oriented prevention strategies

Las diferencias transculturales en la insatisfacción corporal y las actitudes alimentarias de riesgo en adolescentes han sido escasamente estudiadas en el sur de Europa. El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar la insatisfacción corporal, las actitudes alimentarias alteradas, la interiorización del ideal estético, la autoestima, el perfeccionismo y la impulsividad de adolescentes de Espana y Portugal. Participaron 249 adolescentes españoles y 206 portugueses (51,2% de chicas) de entre 12 y 15 años (M= 13,3 años; DT= 0,6). Se realizó un MANOVA considerando un diseño 2 × 2 (país × sexo) para cada medida autoinformada. Las chicas obtuvieron puntuaciones más altas en interiorización del ideal estético, insatisfacción corporal, conductas alimentarias alteradas y menor autoestima que los chicos. En cuanto al país, los adolescentes portugueses puntuaron más alto que los españoles en actitudes alimentarias alteradas, impulsividad y perfeccionismo. Nuestros hallazgos muestran diferencias significativas entre país y sexo, destacando la importancia de las estrategias de prevención específicas para cada sexo

Depressive symptomatology and grief in Spanish women who have suffered a perinatal loss / Sintomatología depresiva y duelo en mujeres españolas que han sufrido una pérdida perinatal

BACKGROUND: Perinatal grief differs from other types of mourning. Two goals were set: to describe the progression of the process of grief and the symptoms of depression throughout the year following perinatal loss, and to study its association with socio-economic and obstetric factors. METHOD: The study involved the participation of 70 women who had suffered a medical termination of pregnancy or a prenatal/postnatal death. Three assessments were made after the loss (after 1 month, 6 months and 1 year) with the Perinatal Grief Scale (PGS) to assess grief and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) for depressive symptomatology. RESULTS: Symptoms pertaining to grief and depression were observed in the first month after the loss, and a significant decrease in scores over the two follow-ups. No significant differences were observed in grief and depression depending on the type of loss, no significant associations were found with the age of the mother, her socioeconomic level, or obstetric factors (week of gestation of the loss, having a child or having suffered a previous miscarriage). CONCLUSIONS: Perinatal grief is a complex construct, with multiple variables involved, and one which involves significant emotional discomfort

ANTECEDENTES: el duelo perinatal difiere de otros tipos de duelo. Se plantearon dos objetivos: describir la evolución del proceso de duelo y la sintomatología depresiva a lo largo del año que sigue a la pérdida perinatal y estudiar su asociación con factores socioeconómicos y obstétricos. MÉTODO: participaron 70 mujeres que habían sufrido una interrupción médica del embarazo o una muerte prenatal/postnatal y se realizaron tres evaluaciones tras la pérdida (1 mes, 6 meses y 1 año) con la Perinatal Grief Scale (PGS) para evaluar el duelo y el Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) para la sintomatología depresiva. RESULTADOS: se observó sintomatología propia del duelo y depresiva en el primer mes de la pérdida y una disminución significativa de las puntuaciones a lo largo de los dos seguimientos. No se observaron diferencias significativas en el duelo y la depresión en función del tipo de pérdida, ni se encontraron asociaciones significativas con la edad de la madre y su nivel socioeconómico o los factores obstétricos (semana de gestación de la pérdida, tener un hijo o haber padecido un aborto previo). CONCLUSIONES: el duelo perinatal es un constructo complejo, con múltiples variables implicadas y que comporta un malestar emocional significativo

Depressive symptomatology and grief in Spanish women who have suffered a perinatal loss.

BACKGROUND: Perinatal grief differs from other types of mourning. Two goals were set: to describe the progression of the process of grief and the symptoms of depression throughout the year following perinatal loss, and to study its association with socio-economic and obstetric factors. METHOD: The study involved the participation of 70 women who had suffered a medical termination of pregnancy or a prenatal/postnatal death. Three assessments were made after the loss (after 1 month, 6 months and 1 year) with the Perinatal Grief Scale (PGS) to assess grief and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) for depressive symptomatology. RESULTS: Symptoms pertaining to grief and depression were observed in the first month after the loss, and a significant decrease in scores over the two follow-ups. No significant differences were observed in grief and depression depending on the type of loss, no significant associations were found with the age of the mother, her socioeconomic level, or obstetric factors (week of gestation of the loss, having a child or having suffered a previous miscarriage). CONCLUSIONS: Perinatal grief is a complex construct, with multiple variables involved, and one which involves significant emotional discomfort.

Pilot assessment of two disordered eating prevention programs. Preliminary findings on maladaptive beliefs related to eating disorders.

AIMS: As eating disorders have severe consequences, they require prevention. We aimed to compare maladaptive beliefs related to eating disorders by following two programs based on media literacy in adolescents at post-test intervention, and after 6 and 12month-follow-ups. The Male and Female Nutrition and Media Literacy Model preventive program (NUT+MEF+MEM+ML in Spanish) and the Theater Alive program are both based on the same contents, the former being presented in a multimedia and interactive format and the latter in a drama format. Both were compared to a control group without intervention, whose participants received usual classes before the assessments. METHOD: Participants were 178 adolescents in the second year of compulsory secondary education from fours schools of Terrassa (Catalonia, Spain). All participants in each school were assigned to the same group, depending on school schedules. A mixed 3 (group: Theater Alive, NUT+MEF+MEM+ML, control)×3 (time: post-test, 6-month-follow-up, 12-month-follow-up) factorial design was used to evaluate the effect on maladaptive beliefs measured using a CE-TCA tool. RESULTS: When compared to the control group, both Theater Alive (d=0.88) and NUT+MEM+MEF+ML (d=0.60) obtained lower scores over time, the latter being not statistically significant. DISCUSSION: The Theater Alive program may produce an effect of cognitive dissonance that might eliminate the discrepancy between the contents of the play and those that are internalized, thus modifying maladaptive beliefs. Participants in the Theater Alive program, as actors in front of an audience, had to defend certain content that was rehearsed over and over again to the point until it became internalized.

Modelo estético, imagen corporal, autoestima y sintomatología de trastornos alimentarios en adolescentes mexicanas y Españolas / Aesthetic model, body image, selfesteem and eating disorders symptomatology in Mexican and Spanish adolescents

El objetivo del trabajo fue analizar la relación del país de origen, la insatisfacción con la imagen corporal, la interiorización del ideal estético y la autoestima en el desarrollo de sintomatología de trastornos de la conducta alimentaria (TCA) en adolescentes de México y España. Participaron 117 mujeres, 68 mexicanas y 49 españolas (Medad= 15,34; DT= 0,51), quienes contestaron el "Cuestionario para la evaluación de los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria" (EDE-Q), el "Cuestionario de imagen corporal" (BSQ), el "Cuestionario de influencias del modelo estético corporal" (CIMEC-26) y la "Escala de autoestima de Rosenberg" (RSES). En cuanto a la sintomatología de TCA, el conjunto de interacciones del país con el resto de variables no mostro influencia significativa (p= 0,721), la insatisfacción con la imagen corporal (p< 0,005) y la interiorización del ideal estético (p= 0,002) mostraron un efecto positivo significativo, mientras que la autoestima y el país un efecto estadísticamente nulo. Estos resultados muestran que no hay diferencias entre la influencia de los factores de riesgo y el desarrollo de sintomatología de TCA en ambos países

The objective of the research was to analyze the relationship between country of origin, body image dissatisfaction, influence of the aesthetic body shape model and self-esteem on the development of eating disorders (ED) symptomatology in Mexican and Spanish adolescents. The participants were 117 female adolescents, 68 from Mexico and 49 from Spain (Mage= 15.34 years old, SD= 0.51), who completed the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDEQ), the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ), the Aesthetic Body Shape Influence Questionnaire (CIMEC-26, in Spanish) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). Regarding the symptomatology of ED, the interactions of the country with the rest of the variables did not show a significant influence (p= .721), the body image dissatisfaction (p< .005) and the influence of the aesthetic body shape model (p= .002) showed a positive and significant effect, while self-esteem and country of origin did not show any significant effect. According to these results there is no difference between the influence of the risk factors and the development of ED symptomatology in both countries

Association of biological, psychological and lifestyle risk factors for eating disturbances in adolescents.

We aimed to assess the association of several risk factors for eating disturbances in adolescents. Participants were 448 girls and boys aged 12-15 years. Being female, higher body mass index, internalisation of standard of appearance, perfectionism, body dissatisfaction, number of lifetime addictive behaviours and lower self-esteem were associated with higher eating disturbance scores, whereas frequency of sedentary behaviours and physical activity were not (R(2) ⩾ 41%). Findings suggest the need to guide prevention efforts towards the broad spectrum of individual potentially modifiable factors. A non-specific comprehensive perspective may be adequate to prevent problems related to weight, body image and drug use.

Gender differences found in a qualitative study of a disordered eating prevention programme: What do boys have to say?

Qualitative studies examining gender differences of eating disorder prevention programmes are scarce. We aimed to evaluate gender differences in adolescents who participated in a larger study on effectiveness of a disordered eating prevention programme. Perceptions of eating, female and male aesthetic models, media influences, prevention programmes and emerging topics from 12 school-going boys who received a media-literacy programme (n = 4), media-literacy plus nutrition-awareness programme (n = 4) or neither (n = 4) were explored using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis and compared with previous results in girls. Findings suggest that the prevention programme is effective for both genders. Gender differences and consumer-culture influences may be considered in future interventions.

Body dissatisfaction and disordered eating among Portuguese and Spanish adolescents: The role of individual characteristics and internalisation of sociocultural ideals.

The aim of this study was to explore the differences in patterns of risk factors for body dissatisfaction and disordered eating attitudes in both female and male adolescents from Portugal and Spain. The sample included 455 adolescents aged 12-16 years (M = 13.28, SD = 0.65) from two urban areas of each country. Body mass index, self-reported self-esteem, perfectionism, internalisation of sociocultural ideals, body dissatisfaction and disordered eating attitudes were assessed. Path analyses provided partial support for a cross-cultural model of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating in Western countries due to the presence of certain differences in the patterns of relationships across sex and country. The findings suggest the importance not only of identifying cultural specificities, even in "neighbouring" countries, but also of developing a global and comprehensive preventive approach that focuses on the influence of the ideal of beauty transmitted by Western societies.

Assessment of two school-based programs to prevent universal eating disorders: media literacy and theatre-based methodology in Spanish adolescent boys and girls.

AIMS: To evaluate the long-term effects of two school-based prevention programs administered to a universal mixed-sex sample of school-going adolescents on disturbed eating attitudes, aesthetic ideal internalization, and other eating disorder risk factors, when compared to a control group. METHODS: Participants were 200 adolescents aged 12-15 selected by means of incidental sampling from second-year compulsory secondary education at schools. An interactive multimedia media literacy program (ML + NUT, Media Literacy and Nutrition) and a program focused on the same topics using dramatic arts (Theatre Alive) were applied and compared with a control group. Pretest, posttest (1 month later), and 5- and 13-month follow-up measurements were taken. Analyses were conducted with two-way mixed 3 × 3 ANCOVA (group × phase) adjusted by baseline levels, body mass index, and sex. RESULTS: Participants in both experimental groups showed significantly higher self-esteem scores than the control group over time. The ML + NUT group also presented lower aesthetic ideal internalization scores than the control group. DISCUSSION: Both programs can benefit students' self-esteem. Moreover, ML + NUT program was useful in reducing thin-ideal internalization. However, differences in body dissatisfaction and disordered eating attitudes were not found. The programs may be protective on the core psychological variables, which are essential to adaptive adolescent development.

Psychometric properties of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) and norms for rural and urban adolescent males and females in Mexico.

AIMS: To contribute new evidence to the controversy about the factor structure of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) and to provide, for the first time, norms based on a large adolescent Mexican community sample, regarding sex and area of residence (urban/rural). METHODS: A total of 2928 schoolchildren (1544 females and 1384 males) aged 11-18 were assessed with the EDE-Q and other disordered eating questionnaire measures. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis of the attitudinal items of the EDE-Q did not support the four theorized subscales, and a two-factor solution, Restraint and Eating-Shape-Weight concern, showed better fit than the other models examined (RMSEA = .054); measurement invariance for this two-factor model across sex and area of residence was found. Satisfactory internal consistency (ω ≥ .80) and two-week test-retest reliability (ICCa ≥ .84; κ ≥ .56), and evidence for convergent validity with external measures was obtained. The highest attitudinal EDE-Q scores were found for urban females and the lowest scores were found for rural males, whereas the occurrence of key eating disorder behavioural features and compensatory behaviours was similar in both areas of residence. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals satisfactory psychometric properties and provides population norms of the EDE-Q, which may help clinicians and researchers to interpret the EDE-Q scores of adolescents from urban and rural areas in Mexico.

Factors associated with body image dissatisfaction among adolescents in public schools students in Salvador, Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the prevalence of body image dissatisfaction and associated factors among students in Salvador, Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving a random sample of 1,494 (852 girls and 642 boys) adolescents between 11 and 17 years of age who were students in the public schools in Salvador, Brazil. Participants completed the Body Shape Questionnaire and the Eating Attitudes Test-26. Body image was characterized as satisfactory or unsatisfactory. We obtained demographic, anthropometric and economic information and information regarding the stage of maturation, self-perception of body weight, and consumption of sweetened beverages and diet soft drinks. To identify associated factors we used Poisson regression analysis. RESULTS: Body image dissatisfaction was present in 19.5% of the adolescents, with a prevalence of 26.6% among the girls and 10% among the boys. Independent of sex, the prevalence of body image dissatisfaction was higher among adolescents who were overweight or obese (girls, PR: 1.38, CI: 1.09-1.73 and boys, PR: 2.26, CI: 1.08-4.75), higher among those who perceived themselves as fat (girls, PR: 2.85, CI: 2.07-3.93 and boys, PR: 3.17, CI: 1.39-7.23), and higher among those who had negative attitudes toward eating (girls, PR: 2.42, CI: 1.91-3.08 and boys, PR: 4.67, CI: 2.85-7.63).. A reduction in body image dissatisfaction was only identified among underweight girls (PR: 0.12, CI: 0.03-0.49). CONCLUSIONS: A high occurrence of body image dissatisfaction was observed among the adolescents, and biological and behavioral factors were associated with this dissatisfaction.

Objetivo: Identificar la prevalencia de insatisfacción corporal y factores asociados entre estudiantes de Salvador en Brasil. Métodos: Estudio transversal realizado en una muestra aleatoria de 1494 adolescentes (852 niñas y 642 niños) de entre 11 y 17 años de edad estudiantes de escuelas públicas en Salvador (Brasil). Los participantes completaron los cuestionarios: Cuestionario de La Figura Corporal y el Inventario de Actitudes Alimentarias. La imagen corporal pudo ser considerada satisfactoria o insatisfactoria. Se obtuvieron datos demográficos, antropométricos y económicos e información sobre la etapa de maduración sexual, la auto-percepción del peso corporal y el consumo de bebidas azucaradas y gaseosas. Para identificar los factores asociados se utilizó el análisis de regresión de Poisson. Resultados: La insatisfacción corporal estuvo presente en el 19,5% de los/as adolescentes, con una prevalencia del 26,6% entre las chicas y el 10% entre los chicos. Independientemente del sexo, la prevalencia de la insatisfacción corporal fue superior entre los/as adolescentes con sobrepeso u obesos (en las niñas, PR: 1,38, IC: 1,09-1,73 y en los niños, PR: 2,26, IC: 1,08-4,75), mayor entre los/as que percibían a sí mismos como "gordos" (en las niñas, PR: 2,85, IC: 2,07-3,93 y en los niños, PR: 3,17, IC: 1,39- 7,23), y entre los/as que tenían actitudes alimentarias negativas (en las niñas, PR: 2,42, IC: 1,91-3,08 y en los niños, PR: 4,67, IC: 2,85-7,63). Una reducción en la insatisfacción corporal se identificó sólo entre las niñas con bajo peso (RP: 0,12, IC: 0,03-0.49).Conclusiones: Se observó una alta ocurrencia de la insatisfacción corporal entre los adolescentes, y que factores biológicos y del comportamiento se asocian con dicha insatisfacción.

Factors associated with body image dissatisfaction among adolescents in public schools students in Salvador, Brazil / Los factores asociados con la insatisfacción corporal en adolescentes de escuelas públicas en Salvador, Brasil

OBJECTIVE: To identify the prevalence of body image dissatisfaction and associated factors among students in Salvador, Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving a random sample of 1,494 (852 girls and 642 boys) adolescents between 11 and 17 years of age who were students in the public schools in Salvador, Brazil. Participants completed the Body Shape Questionnaire and the Eating Attitudes Test-26. Body image was characterized as satisfactory or unsatisfactory. We obtained demographic, anthropometric and economic information and information regarding the stage of maturation, self-perception of body weight, and consumption of sweetened beverages and diet soft drinks. To identify associated factors we used Poisson regression analysis. RESULTS: Body image dissatisfaction was present in 19.5% of the adolescents, with a prevalence of 26.6% among the girls and 10% among the boys. Independent of sex, the prevalence of body image dissatisfaction was higher among adolescents who were overweight or obese (girls, PR: 1.38, CI: 1.09-1.73 and boys, PR: 2.26, CI: 1.08-4.75), higher among those who perceived themselves as fat (girls, PR: 2.85, CI: 2.07-3.93 and boys, PR: 3.17, CI: 1.39-7.23), and higher among those who had negative attitudes toward eating (girls, PR: 2.42, CI: 1.91-3.08 and boys, PR: 4.67, CI: 2.85-7.63).. A reduction in body image dissatisfaction was only identified among underweight girls (PR: 0.12, CI: 0.03-0.49).CONCLUSIONS:A high occurrence of body image dissatisfaction was observed among the adolescents, and biological and behavioral factors were associated with this dissatisfaction (AU)

Objetivo: Identificar la prevalencia de insatisfacción corporal y factores asociados entre estudiantes de Salvador en Brasil. Métodos: Estudio transversal realizado en una muestra aleatoria de 1494 adolescentes (852 niñas y 642 niños) de entre 11 y 17 años de edad estudiantes de escuelas públicas en Salvador (Brasil). Los participantes completaron los cuestionarios: Cuestionario de La Figura Corporal y el Inventario de Actitudes Alimentarias. La imagen corporal pudo ser considerada satisfactoria o insatisfactoria. Se obtuvieron datos demográficos, antropométricos y económicos e información sobre la etapa de maduración sexual, la auto-percepción del peso corporal y el consumo de bebidas azucaradas y gaseosas. Para identificar los factores asociados se utilizó el análisis de regresión de Poisson. Resultados: La insatisfacción corporal estuvo presente en el 19,5% de los/as adolescentes, con una prevalencia del 26,6% entre las chicas y el 10% entre los chicos. Independientemente del sexo, la prevalencia de la insatisfacción corporal fue superior entre los/as adolescentes con sobrepeso u obesos (en las niñas, PR: 1,38, IC: 1,09-1,73 y en los niños, PR: 2,26, IC: 1,08-4,75), mayor entre los/as que percibían a sí mismos como “gordos” (en las niñas, PR: 2,85, IC: 2,07-3,93 y en los niños, PR: 3,17, IC: 1,39- 7,23), y entre los/as que tenían actitudes alimentarias negativas (en las niñas, PR: 2,42, IC: 1,91-3,08 y en los niños, PR: 4,67, IC: 2,85-7,63). Una reducción en la insatisfacción corporal se identificó sólo entre las niñas con bajo peso (RP: 0,12, IC: 0,03-0.49).Conclusiones: Se observó una alta ocurrencia de la insatisfacción corporal entre los adolescentes, y que factores biológicos y del comportamiento se asocian con dicha insatisfacción (AU)

Norms for the Spanish version of the Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire (S-EDE-Q).

BACKGROUND: This study presents normative data on the Spanish Version of the Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire (S-EDE-Q) for adolescents and young adults in Spain. METHOD: A sample of 1,543 men and women, aged 12 - 21 years, completed the S-EDE-Q as part of a larger assessment battery. RESULTS: Means, standard deviations, clinical significance and percentile ranks for the raw Restraint, Eating Concern, Shape Concern, and Weight Concern subscales and the Global Score by age group and gender are presented. Data on any and regular occurrences of dieting, bingeing and compensatory behaviors by age group and gender are reported. Compared with men, women scored higher on all the subscales and reported more key eating disorders (ED) and compensatory behavior. Compared with adolescents, young adults scored higher on the Restraint and Shape Concern subscales and reported more dietary restraint (DR), objective binge episodes (OBE) and diuretic misuse (DIUR). CONCLUSIONS: These results can help researchers and clinicians interpret the S-EDE-Q scores of adolescents and young adults in Spanish-speaking countries.

Prevention programme for eating disturbances in adolescents. Is their effect on body image maintained at 30 months later?

We assessed changes in the body image of Spanish adolescents who participated in a programme aimed at preventing disordered eating, with a 30-month follow-up. 254 girls and 189 boys aged 12-14 were assigned to a control group (n=201) or one of two possible experimental conditions: media literacy programme (ML, n=143) and media literacy plus nutrition awareness programme (ML+NUT, n=99). Body image was assessed with the Body Image Questionnaire (Qüestionari d'Imatge Corporal; QÜIC). Pre-test, post-test, 7- and 30-month follow-up measurements were taken. Linear model analyses were carried out with a 2×3×3 ANOVA (sex×group×phase), adjusted by the baseline level. At 30-month follow-up, ML and ML+NUT participants showed fewer body problems and more body satisfaction than the control group. There is a need for prevention programmes addressing eating and body image disturbances that involve both boys and girls.

Qualitative findings in a long-term disordered eating prevention programme follow-up with school-going girls.

The assessment of eating disorder prevention-programmes has mainly been addressed quantitatively excluding complexity that may improve prevention. We compared perceptions of eating, female and male aesthetic-models, media influences, prevention-programmes and emerging topics among 12 young females who received a media literacy programme (N = 4), media literacy plus nutrition awareness programme (N = 4) or were assigned to a control condition (N = 4). Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis highlighted ego-syntonic eating-patterns and signs of internalization of the thin ideal. Findings provide invaluable and rich information to improve future iterations of the programme.

Childhood sexual and physical abuse in Spanish female undergraduates: does it affect eating disturbances?

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between childhood sexual and physical abuse, and key attitudinal and behavioural aspects of eating disorders (ED). METHOD: Participants included 708 female undergraduates in a Spanish public university, aged from 18 to 30. Abuse was measured by the Traumatic Life Events Questionnaire, and ED by the Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q). RESULTS: 14.3% of the sample had suffered childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and 3.8% childhood physical abuse (CPA). With respect to ED attitudinal features, we observed an increased Weight Concern score among CSA survivors. No association was found between this kind of abuse and disordered eating behaviours, after adjusting for depression, anxiety, self-esteem, body mass index, age and socioeconomic status. An inverse relationship was found between CPA and ED attitudes measured by EDE-Q (Restraint, Weight Concern, Shape Concern and the Overall Score), whereas no association was found with the behavioural aspects of eating disturbances. DISCUSSION: After controlling for different risk factors, CSA appears to be related to an increased Weight Concern, whilst other ED attitudinal features and behaviours do not seem to be related to childhood abuse. The inverse relationship found is discussed.

Assessment of body image: psychometric properties of the Body Image Questionnaire.

This study investigated the psychometric properties of the Body Image Questionnaire (QÜIC) in Spanish adolescents. The sample comprised 254 girls and 189 boys, aged 12-15. Principal component analyses showed that the 18 satisfaction items could be summarized using two moderately interrelated dimensions, torso and head/limbs, with satisfaction with chest/breast and genitals loading on a different factor for boys (torso) and girls (head/limbs). The QÜIC measures of body satisfaction, body problems, general physical appearance and conformity with weight and height presented satisfactory test-retest reliability, internal consistency and convergent validity. Our findings support the use of the QÜIC when assessing body image.

Impact of a school-based disordered eating prevention program in adolescent girls: general and specific effects depending on adherence to the interactive activities.

This study assessed the impact of a school-based program aimed at preventing disordered eating. The program was based on the media-literacy approach and has interactive format. The program was assessed under strong methodological conditions. Seven schools with 263 Spanish adolescent girls in the area of Barcelona, were randomly assigned to either the complete prevention program condition, the partial program condition or the non-treatment control condition, and assessed at pre, post and 6-month follow-up. The program was effective in generating positive changes at follow-up. The effects sizes (ES(d) = 0.29 to ES(d) = 0.38) were greater, on average, than that obtained up to now in selective-universal programs, and similar or greater than that achieved by targeted prevention programs. The results indicate a greater and relevant effect size of the intervention in those participants who completed the inter-session interactive activities (ES(d) = 0.29 to ES(d) = 0.45) although the differences were not significant. These results suggest the importance of monitoring adherence to the activities in all programs defined as "interactive". The implications and limitations of this study are discussed.

General of a school-based disordered eating prevention program in adolescent girls: general and specific effects depending on adherence to the interactive activities

This study assessed the impact of a school-based program aimed at preventing disordered eating. The program was based on the media-literacy approach and has interactive format. The program was assessed under strong methodological conditions. Seven schools with 263 Spanish adolescent girls in the area of Barcelona, were randomly assigned to either the complete prevention program condition, the partial program condition or the non-treatment control condition, and assessed at pre, post and 6-month follow-up. The program was effective in generating positive changes at follow-up. The effects sizes (ESd = 0.29 to ESd = 0.38) were greater, on average, than that obtained up to now in selective-universal programs, and similar or greater than that achieved by targeted prevention programs. The results indicate a greater and relevant effect size of the intervention in those participants who completed the inter-session interactive activities (ESd = 0.29 to ESd = 0.45) although the differences were not significant. These results suggest the importance of monitoring adherence to the activities in all programs defined as «interactive». The implications and limitations of this study are discussed (AU)

Este estudio evaluó el impacto de un programa basado en la escuela dirigido a prevenir las alteraciones del comportamiento alimentario. El programa se fundamentó en la perspectiva de alfabetización en medios de comunicación, tiene un formato interactivo y fue evaluado mediante rigurosas condiciones metodológicas. La muestra del estudio estaba constituida por 263 chicas adolescentes procedentes de siete escuelas del área geográfica de Barcelona, que fueron asignadas aleatoriamente a la condición de programa completo, a la condición de programa parcial o a la condición de grupo control sin tratamiento. La evaluación se realizó en tres momentos: pre, post y seis meses de seguimiento. El programa se ha mostrado eficaz produciendo cambios favorables en el seguimiento. Los tamaños del efecto (ESd = 0.29 a ESd = 0.38), en promedio, son superiores a los obtenidos por programas universal-selectivos, y similares o superiores a los obtenidos por programas de prevención dirigida. Los resultados indican un mayor tamaño del efecto de la intervención en los participantes que completaron las actividades interactivas entre sesiones (ESd = 0.29 a ESd = 0.45), aunque las diferencias no fueron estadísticamente significativas. Estos resultados sugieren la importancia de monitorizar la adhesión a las actividades en los programas definidos como «interactivos». Se discuten las implicaciones y las limitaciones de este estudio (AU)

Disordered eating prevention programme in schools: a 30-month follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to evaluate the long-term effects of a school-based prevention programme administered to adolescents; the purpose of the said programme was to reduce disordered eating attitudes and sociocultural influences on the internalisation of the aesthetical body ideal. METHODS: A total of 254 girls and 189 boys were assigned to a control (n = 201) or to two experimental conditions: media literacy programme (n = 143) and media literacy plus nutrition awareness programme (n = 99). Pretest, post-test (1 month later) and 7-month and 30-month follow-up measurements were taken using the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-40) and the questionnaire on influences of aesthetic body ideal-26/cuestionario de influencias del modelo estético corporal (CIMEC-26). Linear mixed-model analyses were conducted with a 2 × 3 × 3 ANOVA (sex × group × phase), adjusted by the baseline level. RESULTS: The participants from both prevention programmes scored lower than the participants in the control group at follow-up assessments on EAT-40 and CIMEC-26 scores. DISCUSSION: Both media literacy-based programmes can be effective interventions reducing long-term self-reported disordered eating attitudes and internalisation of the aesthetic body ideal in a universal mixed-sex school-going adolescent population.