Body Image Test Research Articles

Body Image Changes in Adolescents II Comparison among Patients with Eating Disorders and Controls with Thin, Normal and Obese Body Shapes

The Self-Rating Body Image (SRBI) test was used to determine whether the patients with eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia showed their body image disturbance or not. The SRBI was completed by 120 subjects who consisted of 30 low weight (LW) controls, 30 normal weight (NW) controls, 30 high weight (HW) controls, 18 anorexic patients (AN) and 12 bulimic patients (BN). The AN group had a significantly greater dissatisfaction with the scales of the body shape, visceral organ and face image of the SRBI than the weight-matched LW group. The BN group had a significantly greater dissatisfaction with the visceral organ image shape than the weight-matched NW group. However, no significant difference in the body shape and face images between the BN and NW groups was found. Our results suggest that the anorexic patients may disturb more parts of the body image than the bulimic patients though both the anorexic and bulimic patients showed the disturbance of body image.

PSYCHOSOCIAL STATUS OF GROWTH HORMONE DEFICIENT (GHD) PATIENTS IN ADULTHOOD

Top of pageAbstract The psychological and social status of adults previously treated in chilhood for short stature due to GHD has received little attention to date. These parameters were studied in a group of 28 adults with GHD: 16 with isolated GHD (treatment duration (id) : X= 6.7 yr, final height (fh): −2.3 SD in 12 boys and −2.4 SD in 4 girls and chronologic age at evaluation (CAe): X= 21.3 yr) and 12 with multiple pituitary GHD (dt: X= 9.9 yr, fh: X= −2.0 in 9 boys and −2.3, 0.3, 0.5 in 3 girls and CAe: X= 23.5 yr. All of them were idiopathic. A comparative study in the social aspects was performed in siblings. The study methods included: semistructured interview, special questionnaires and the following tests: Raven (intelligence), MMPI-Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory- (personality), STAI -State-treit (anxiety), Hamilton (depression) and CIMEC (local Spanish body image test). Patients showed different degrees of social maladjusment : social withdrawal, inhibition, parenteral dependency and depressive mood. The impact of short stature was never positive at school. In the cognitive area, academic achievement was low although intelligence quotients were normal. In contrast to their siblings the majority of patients lailed to med Spanish education standards. The unemployment rate was high. Self-esteem was generally low in both sexes. 60% had never experienced sexual intercourse and only 2 were married. Expectations of treatment were fulfilled in only 50% of cases. We conclude that GHD patients require psychological attention while undergoing GH treatment in chilhood.

Are anorexic tendencies prevalent in the habitual runner?

To investigate whether runners displayed any of the abnormalities characteristic of patients with anorexia nervosa, we conducted a cross sectional study of 31 high mileage, 18 low mileage runners and 18 non-running controls. Subjects completed a personal data questionnaire, the Jackson Personality Inventory (JPI) and the Eating Attitudes Questionnaire (EAT), underwent a body image test and a blood sample was obtained for measurement of reproductive, thyroid and adrenal hormones. High mileage runners scored significantly higher infrequency scores on the JPI than sedentary controls but there was no evidence of psychopathology. The high mileage runners also significantly overestimated waist width and there were small but statistically significant differences in EAT scores between controls and the runner groups. Ten of 49 runners had EAT scores beyond two standard deviations above the mean of non-running controls. Serum total, free and non-specifically bound testosterone and prolactin levels were significantly lower in high mileage runners than controls. LH, FSH, cortisol and thyroid hormones were not significantly different. There were no significant differences in any hormone between low mileage runners and controls. displayed no clear abnormalities characteristic of patients with anorexia The results suggested that running may have a chronic effect on serum testosterone and prolactin levels in high mileage but not low mileage runners. Although there was no significant evidence of anorexia nervosa on testing the runners with EAT, the overestimation of waist size provided some evidence of a distortion of body image in the high mileage runners. Runners displayed no clear abnormalities characteristic of patients with anorexia nervosa.

The evaluation of a training programme i n orientation skills

In encouraging mobility instructors to evaluate aspects of their procedure, a simple controlled comparison is presented as an example. Two matched groups, each o f six blind 8 and 9 year olds, initially comparable on the Cratty and Sams test of body image, were assigned to either training or control conditions. The individuals in the training group received two periods of extra training in concepts basic to mobility; and the control or compared group received no extra training. Significant improvements were demonstrated, not only in these specific concepts but also on the general body image test when their scores were compared with those of the control group.

Movement therapy and selected measures of body image in the trainable, mentally retarded

The purpose of this pilot study was to compare the changes on selected measures of body image of 22 trainable, mentally retarded youth, following 10 week programs of either movement therapy or physical education. The mean age was 15 years, 10 months. Cratty and Sams’ Body Image Screening Test and the Draw-A-Person Test by Machover were given before and after the 10 weeks as an indication of body image. The Body Image Test results showed significantly greater improvement in the movement therapy group than the physical education group. There was no significant change for either group from pre to post test on the Draw-A-Person Test. The results indicate movement therapy has a positive effect on improving the body image of the trainable, mentally retarded youth.

Relationships of Space Utilization by Children with Selected Aspects of Behavior

Abstract Fifty-four kindergarten age boys and girls were filmed while at play on the school playground. Space utilization was based on 10-min. film segments taken on each of six randomly selected days covering a period of seven weeks. Additional behavioral data were collected from the children on perceptual-motor development, body image, body size concept, fine motor skill, and space utilization in graphic production. Data for these variables were derived by administering the Bender Visual-Motor Gestalt Test, three performance subtests of the Wechsler Preschool Primary Scale of Intelligence, a body image test, a body size concept test, and a self-drawing task. Results of the study lend support to the concept that young children can be differentiated by the amount of space each uses while engaged in self-initiated nonstructured locomotor movement. Also, relationships of space utilization by children with selected aspects of behavior were found.