APPLIED STATISTICS

GROUP NO.5

(SECTION A)

Members

Laiba Nadeem (024)

Madiha Javid (025)

Maheen Iqbal (026)

Manahil Hafeez (028)

VARIABLES SELECTED:

(1) Eating Disorders

(2) Body Image

(3) Psychological Adjustment

SCALES:

1) EAT-26

https://www.seattlechildrens.org/globalassets/documents/healthcare-
professionals/pal/ratings/eat-26-rating-scale.pdf

2) Body Image Questionnaire

(Female version)

https://www.psyctc.org/psyctc/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/bsq-34.odt

3) Brief Adjustment Scale

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333657447_Evaluation_of_the_Brief_Adjustment_S
cale-6_BASE-6_A_measure_of_general_psychological_adjustment_for_measurement-
based_care
INTRODUCTION

Body image is a multifaceted psychological experience that involves individual thoughts, beliefs,
feelings, and behaviors both of mental thoughts and behavior. A person's physical condition is
often described as their self-perception, as well as the feelings and thoughts that arise from that
perspective (Cash, 2004; Grogan, 2006). Disruption in any of these domains is referred to as a
physical image disorder or a negative body image. Unfortunately, dissatisfaction with one's body
image stems from an important concept: conforming to established social norms leads to an
increasing number of young people using the most dangerous health methods to control their
weight. Such behavior is typically carried out in the absence of professional guidance.

Eating disorders are complicated and heritable psychiatric disorders (Yilmaz, Hardaway, &
Bulik, 2015). People suffering from an eating disorder have a complex relationship with food,
which develops during this period of food insecurity and panic attacks.

Anorexia nervosa, which is characterized by dangerously low body weight and extreme fear of
gaining weight while engaging in behaviors that induce negative energy balance, such as fasting
or, in some cases, excessive exercise, is the most studied. (According to the Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5)

 Individuals suffering from bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder, on the other hand, have
episodes of excessive overeating (i.e., binge eating) accompanied by a sense of loss of control,
during which they consume unusually large amounts of food in a short period of time. Bulimia is
characterized by the episodic ingestion of large amounts of food in relatively short periods of
time, which is usually followed by self-induced vomiting, laxative abuse, or fasting (Mitchell &
Pyle, 1982; Russell, 1979). Patients with eating disorders have pathological eating habits as well
as an overestimation of their weight and body shape. (According to the Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5)

Psychological adjustment has been termed as mental distress. Providing medical care to patients
would be possible by the in-depth knowledge that these factors present. Adjustment according to
psychology is a behavioral process in which living beings maintain their balance between their
various needs and the hurdles they face while adjusting in the environment (Searle & Ward
1990).

LITERATURE REVIEW

The construct of body image is defined as an approach that shows one’s attitude to our body on
the basis of our perception, affective, and cognitive components (Cash, Ancis, & Strachan,
1997), currently the emphasis of researchers on body image is on physical aspects including
shape, weight, and the degree to which an individual is satisfied with their appearance.
According to various studies concerns about body image is disturbing for majority of American
women. Researchers have shown that approximately 50% of young women are highly
dissatisfied with their current physical appearance (Vartanian, Giant, & Passino, 2001), and this
body dissatisfaction is not only for young age but also for also older age women (Allaz,
Bernstein, Rouget, Archinard, & Morabia, 1998; Lewis & Cachelin, 2001; Pliner, Chaiken, &
Flett, 1990; Webster & Tiggemann, 2003). The existence of body dissatisfaction has become so
prominent that some researchers have termed it as normative discontent. (Rodin, Silberstein, &
Striegel-Moore, 1985, p. 267).

As this is a strong association between body image disturbance and mental health, many
researchers suggest that a population-based approach is needed to prevent eating problems and to
improve adolescent body image is well founded. Such studies confirm the existence of the
relationship between poor body image and eating problems.

Eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), binge eating disorder
(BED) and eating disorders otherwise not specified (EDNOS) are major and serious health
problems related to body image disturbance amongst adolescents (Thompson & Smolak,
2002).According to studies in Western countries, the rates of AN and BN amongst young
females are reported to be 0.3% and 1%, respectively, in the general population (Howk & van
Hoken, 2003). Although eating disorders have been previously regarded as found in Western
society they are now considered a more global issue (Mellor et al., 2009).

To better understand causes of eating disorders caused in a specific geographical area we need to
study cultural differences around issues of body image disturbance. (Keel & Klump, 2003).
 In Japanese culture unhealthy dieting behaviors appear to start in early adolescence. Some
research has shown that around 20% of 10 years old girls and boys had already undertaken
dieting experiences (Kaneko, Kiriike, Ikenaga, Miyawaki, & Yamagami, 1999; Suka et al.,
2006). Nakamura et al. (1999) showed that from a sample of 406 participants, statistics shows
that 42.4% individuals had dieting experiences and 5.9% had fasting experiences. In regard to
the use of laxatives, diet pills and diuretics, 14.3%, 10.3%, 3.7% of them, respectively, have used
these ways to lose weight (Nakamura et al., 1999).

In Japan obesity influences body image and eating disorders. It is one of the most prominent and
popular issues caused by media in developed societies. Obesity is mainly caused by binge eating
disorder and is considered a potential risk factor for acquiring eating disorders and vice versa
(Darby, Hay, Mond, Rodgers, & Owen, 2007).

According to the National Health and Nutrition Survey in Japan (2007), in above 20 years age
males and females, the rate of obesity was 30.4 and 20.2, respectively. The trend of slim figures
has enhanced weight issues; also it has worsened body image concerns and has increased the
tendency towards eating disorders.

Body dissatisfaction in women regardless of age, has a number of potentially negative

consequences. Studies have shown that body image is highly correlated with one’s overall self-
concept in both men and women, negative body image leads to low self esteem and it further
leads to various psychological issues. (Forman & Davis, 2005; Jaeger et al., 2001; Klemchuck,
Hutchinson, & Frank, 1990; Tylka, 2004; Woodside & Staab, 2006).

Although body image dissatisfaction and eating disorders are prevalent in people of every age,
current researches are targeting college-aged individuals (Clarke, 2001; Pliner et al., 1990;
Reboussin et al., 2000).

Eating disorders develop due to negative body image and body dissatisfaction. (Jarry, 1998;
Rosen, 1990). One criterion for the diagnosis of eating disorders is body dissatisfaction and
desire for thinness. (American Psychiatric Association, 2000; Striegel-Moore, Franco,
Thompson, Barton, Schreiber, & Daniels, 2004).
The literature consistently shows that women experience high levels of body dissatisfaction that
occurs throughout their life and continually report more body dissatisfaction than men through
various studies across multiple cultures.

For Asian women, body image appears to be influenced by physical characteristics of skin color,
facial features, hair, in addition to weight and size as compared to European or American
women. This comparison may lead to “feelings of inferiority”, self hatred and self hate on the
racial basis as well (Arkoff & Weaver, 1966),(Fujitomi & Wong, 1973), (Sue & Sue, 1971).

Another link to Eating Disorders is to the social, economic, and vocational opportunities. It is
predicted that the rate of anorexia nervosa will increase as these opportunities increase in ethnic
populations. (Root, 1990).

In Western Industrialized society the Women representing ethnic minority have less chances to
develop eating disorders compared to white women (Dolan, 1991; Gordon, 1988; Schwartz,
Thompson, & Johnson, 1982).Studies have shown that the prevalence of anorexia nervosa and
bulimia nervosa is reportedly rare among young black females in the United States (Andersen &
Hay, 1985; Dolan, 1991; Gray, Ford, & Kelly, 1987; Hsu, 1987; Pumariega, Edwards, &
Mitchell, 1984).

The psychological adjustment of high school boys and girls who were trying to reduce or gain
weight was compared in a large sample. Weight reduction attempts by adolescents may be a risk
factor for eating disorders or other harmful dietary patterns.

Negative physical self-esteem and negative psychological adjustment in female weight gainers,
influenced by depression and global self-esteem, that matched that of the female weight losers
indicates weight concern has a significant impact on female teenagers.

RATIONALE

Body Image has been found to be more of a concern in females. Eating disorders and their
prevalence in female teenagers would be analyzed through this study. To see how body image
and psychological adjustment relate to the eating disorders.
We will examine the relationship between body image and eating disorders as well as the
relationship of psychological adjustment and the eating disorders.

This research aims to examine these interlinked phenomenon in the female teenagers.
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