College Women Research Articles

Disordered eating attitudes and behaviors in college women: association with physical activity, inter-nalization of appearance ideals, and self-objectification

This study aimed to examine associations of disordered eating attitudes and behaviors with moderate to vigorous physical activity, internalization of appearance ideals, and self-objectification in college women. Participants were 472 Brazilian college women, aged 18 to 30 years (mean 21.85 years; SD = 4.46). Disordered eating attitudes and behaviors were assessed using the Eating Attitudes Test. Physical activity levels were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (long version). Internalization of appearance ideals was assessed using the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-4-Revised-Female. Self-objectification was assessed using the Self-Objectification Beliefs and Behaviors Scale. Spearman's correlation coefficients and multiple linear regression were conducted to examine the associations between the variables under investigation. Disordered eating attitudes and behaviors showed significant (p< 0.01) and positive correlations with all independent variables. In the multiple linear regression analysis, only the internalization of the muscular ideal was not associated with the outcome. The final model explained 41.3% of the variation of the dependent variable scores. College women may be susceptible to disordered eating attitudes and behaviors, according to their levels of physical activity, internalization of the thin/low body fat ideal, internalization of the general attractiveness ideal, and self-objectification. Keywords: Physical Appearance. Exercise. Eating Behavior. Body Image. Women.

“It’s more like the girl doesn’t really have to do anything”: Hispanic college women’s sexual initiation strategy perceptions.

“It’s more like the girl doesn’t really have to do anything”: Hispanic college women’s sexual initiation strategy perceptions.

Embodied Injustice: Comparing Lesbian, Bisexual, and Queer and Heterosexual Women’s Accounts of Unwanted Sex

Lesbian, bisexual, and queer (LBQ) women experience disproportionately high rates of unwanted sex, including sexual assault. The literature has noted LBQ women's elevated risk for sexual victimization compared to heterosexual women, but little research has compared LBQ women's processing of sexual violations to those of heterosexual women. To address this gap, this article examines accounts of unwanted sex among 20 LBQ and 38 heterosexual college women (57 cisgender; 1 transwoman). We use both studies of embodiment and queer theory to understand socially patterned differences between LBQ and heterosexual women’s accounts of unwanted sex. Our findings indicate that heterosexual women’s multiple experiences with men (violent and not) often lead to explanations of sexual violations focused on men’s individual characteristics, for example, certain men are better/worse than others. In contrast, LBQ women’s experiences with women/non-binary partners produce a broader critique of heterosexuality. We find suggestive evidence that this difference helps LBQ women move away from self-blame toward a position of naming injustice.

Guided by a "Gentle Luminary": The role of others in women's leadership efficacy development.

This article presents a narrative inquiry study on the role of others in college women's leadership efficacy development. It begins by presenting the significance of the study and existing literature on college women's leadership development, including scholarship around the role of others in leadership development. The methodology is presented, followed by an in-depth exploration of the findings around the role of specific family members, peers, and teachers in college women's leadership efficacy development. The article concludes with implications for practice.

A qualitative analysis of college women’s experiences with dieting

Objective Dieting is a known risk factor for disordered eating, yet many college women engage in this behavior. Given the popularity of diets, and the risks associated with dieting, it is important to enhance understanding of dieters’ experiences. This study utilized a qualitative approach to investigate college women’s experiences of dieting. Participants Eighty-four woman-identifying undergraduates [42% White, 24% Asian, 20% Black, 14% other; Mage = 19.18 (1.77)] who endorsed dieting were included in the study. Methods Participants provided short-answer responses to open-ended questions. Data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Results The following themes were identified: A complicated relationship, variability of experiences, and social factors. Subthemes highlighted the complexity of college women’s dieting behavior. Conclusions Results provide important insight into college women’s dieting experiences and their consequences. Future qualitative research should aim to understand how to apply these findings to eating disorder prevention efforts.

Risk Assessment Tool of Breast Cancer and Barriers against Breast Self-Examination among Nurses: An Educational Program

Purpose. Breast cancer is considered a huge health problem among women all over the world due to its increased mortality rate. Breast cancer deaths are decreased by 28–34% due to improvement in treatment and early detection. In order to detect breast cancer early and provide the best possible therapy, knowledge and awareness are essential. So, this study aimed to assess risk of breast cancer among nurses, the knowledge and practices of breast self-examination (BSE) and determine its barriers, and implement an educational program for them. Design. A quasiexperimental research design was used. Methods. This study was conducted at two university hospitals (main university hospital and woman’s health hospital). A purposive sample of 280 nurses with age more than thirty-five years were included in the study using three tools, namely, structure interview questionnaire, breast cancer risk assessment tool, and a structured breast cancer knowledge and practice questionnaire. Nurses’ knowledge and practices regarding breast cancer and BSE were first assessed and then they were provided with two educational courses covering theoretical and practical information. One month after the program ended, the nurses’ knowledge and practices were assessed again. Results. About 3.2% of the participants have five years high risk of developing breast cancer according the risk assessment tool, the main barriers of do not do BSE did not find any symptoms and scared from finding any abnormality. There was a significant increase in knowledge and practice of breast self-examination posteducation compared to pre-education (73.2 and 98.2%, respectively). Also, there was a statistically significant difference between pre- and postprogram with a p value of 0.0001. Conclusion. This study concluded that 3.2% of the nurses with high risk of developing breast cancer needed a follow-up; more than half of them do not perform breast self-examination because they think that do not have any symptoms in the breast and the educational program with a significant effect on knowledge and practices of nurses. So, the researchers recommend the nurses need for an empowerment program and support by providing assistance in places of work as done free clinical examination and mammography by female specialist for privacy.

Development and Validation of the Online Sexual Objectification Experiences Scale Among College Women

In this study, we developed and psychometrically evaluated the Online Sexual Objectification Experiences Scale (OSOES). We collected data from 816 emerging adult college women across two samples. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses revealed three factors: Unwanted Sexual Advances (example item: “How often have you received unwanted messages online asking about your sexual experience?”), Negative Appearance Commentary (example item: “How often has another person insulted you by calling you unattractive online?”), and Indirect Sexual Objectification (example item: “How often have you read a sexual comment posted to a photo of another woman's body online?”). OSOES scores were internally consistent and were strongly correlated with scores of self-objectification, body surveillance, and body shame. OSOES subscale scores also provided evidence of incremental validity in predicting self-objectification and objectified body consciousness above and beyond offline interpersonal sexual objectification. We hope that findings from the present study and the OSOES can be used by researchers, clinicians, and educators to understand the frequency of online sexual objectification experiences among women and as a result, work to mitigate harmful outcomes. Additional online materials for this article are available on PWQ's website at http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/suppl/DOI:10.1177/03616843241250295

Assess the Effectiveness of Ginger Remedy to Reduce the Dysmenorrhea Among Adolescent Girls Studying in PKR Arts and Science College for Women: Gobichettipalayam, Erode (DT)

Assess the Effectiveness of Ginger Remedy to Reduce the Dysmenorrhea Among Adolescent Girls Studying in PKR Arts and Science College for Women: Gobichettipalayam, Erode (DT)

The causal associations between interoception, self-regulation, non-purposeful eating behaviors, and weight status in college women: a longitudinal cross-lagged model analysis

Aims Excessive weight gain has led to increased obesity and mortality risk among college students. Issues with maintaining a healthy weight may be attributed to poor internal awareness and unhealthy eating behaviors. The study’s purpose was to determine the longitudinal effects among interoception, self-regulation, nonpurposeful eating behaviors, and weight status (BMI) among college women. Methods Data from 103 females were collected via Qualtrics over 3 timepoints (T1, T2, T3) during an academic semester. Repeated measures ANOVA and cross-lagged model analyses were used. Significant changes were found in interoceptive responsiveness, external, and uncontrolled eating throughout 3 timepoints. Results Longitudinally, significant causal effects were found among the study measures. Among all models, higher interoceptive responsiveness (T1) predicted increased self-regulation (T2). Higher non-purposeful eating behaviors (T1) predicted reduced self-regulation (T2). Higher BMI (T1) predicted reduced non-purposeful eating behaviors (T2), however higher BMI (T2) predicted increased non-purposeful eating (T3) and reduced interoceptive responsiveness (T3). Significant causal effects were found within each non-purposeful eating behavior models. Conclusion Overall, the research study provided foundational evidence of the importance of self-regulatory skills to help prevent unhealthy eating behaviors and increased weight status in college women. Future interventions educating college women to become more internally aware and better self-regulate are needed.

Proactivity, Work - Life Balance And Learning Orientation Of Women Faculties Working In Women Colleges

Proactivity, Work - Life Balance And Learning Orientation Of Women Faculties Working In Women Colleges

Empowerment or alienation? Teaching gender and development in postcolonial contexts

ABSTRACT This paper explores how culture, religion, gender, and the politics of knowledge production were entangled in the mission, policies, and practices of the Asian University for Women (AUW) in Bangladesh. The article contributes to documenting how decolonisation efforts in women’s education and empowerment play out in an institution located in the periphery and established with an explicit mission for women’s empowerment. The article critically looks at the (sometimes) contradictory discourses, desires, and agencies at the student, community, staff, and institutional levels, along with the power dynamics and reproduction of colonial and postcolonial practices and legacies in the context of operationalising gender and development (GAD), highlighting the paradoxes and challenges that arise from such endeavours. Finally, this case study highlights how pedagogies of community building at the institutional level become integral in responding to such tensions and conflicts and in countering the alienation from culture and religion that global practices of GAD often create.

Arginyl-tRNA protein transferase 1 (ATE1) regulates protein degradation by Arg/N-end rule pathway

Previous studies have shown that deletion or downregulation of ATE1 can lead to neurodegeneration, behavioral abnormalities, hyperphagia and lower body weight. To determine how loss of ATE1 affects energy metabolism and food intake, ATE1-deficient and ATE1-containing mice were given high fat diet for 12 weeks. Based on our current data, we found significant sex differences in body weight and food intakes, with ATE1-deficient mice less sensitive to the obesogenic effects of high fat diet even while consuming the same amount of high fat diet as controls. Interestingly, ATE1-deficient mice exposed to high fat diet displayed lower plasma leptin levels. Leptin-treated ATE1-deficient mice show changes in pSTAT3 expression in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus relative to leptin-treated ATE1-containing mice. Lastly, diet-induced obesity can be ameliorated by tamoxifen-induced knockout of ATE1 in adult male mice relative to vehicle-treated WT mice. Taken together, these data indicate that loss of ATE1 produces attenuated leptin levels in mouse models of diet-induced obesity and can mitigate the effects of high fat diet. NIGMS, 1SC1GM144190-01 (ESN), NINDS R15NS095317 (CSB), Texas Woman's University internal funds. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Alterations in food preference and stress reactivity in mice with a knockout of MeCP2 in POMC neurons

Methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) is an epigenetic factor associated with the neurodevelopmental disorders Rett Syndrome and MECP2 duplication syndrome. Previous studies have demonstrated that knocking out MeCP2 globally in the central nervous system leads to an overweight phenotype and hyperphagia, however it is not clear if the hyperphagia is the result of an increased motivation to obtain food reward or enhancements in food preference. Here, we show that mice deficient in MeCP2 specifically in pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons have an increased preference for high fat diet but do not have a greater motivation to obtain food reward, relative to wildtype (WT) littermate controls. We also demonstrate that POMC-Cre MeCP2 knockout (KO) mice have increased body weight after long-term high fat diet exposure as well as elevated plasma leptin and corticosterone (CORT) levels compared to wildtype mice. Given that our POMC-Cre MeCP2 KO mice have elevated CORT, we wanted to determine if our KO mice also respond differentially to early life stress such as maternal separation stress compared to WT controls. Collectively, our data suggest that POMC-specific loss-of-function Mecp2 mutations leads to dissociable effects on the rewarding/motivational properties of food as well as changes to hormones associated with body weight homeostasis and stress and could underlie differential behavioral responses to early life stress. NIGMS 1SC1GM144190-01 (ESN), Texas Woman's University internal funds. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Stress, hardiness and eating disorder symptoms in military academy cadets

ABSTRACT Eating disorders are a persistent and debilitating problem, especially among college age men and women. This problem is exacerbated in occupations such as the military, where maintenance of strict standards regarding weight, fitness and appearance is important for job retention and promotion. Also, previous research confirms that stress is a contributing element to eating disorders. It is thus important to identify factors that may assist individuals to remain resilient and avoid stress-related health and eating difficulties. The present study utilizes historical data to examine the impact of stress on health and eating disorder symptoms in a representative sample of West Point military academy cadets, while testing the role of gender and hardiness as stress moderators in this relation. A survey containing measures of stress, hardiness and eating disorders symptoms was completed by 387 cadets in the fall and spring of 2000–2001. Moderation effects were tested with advanced conditional process analysis procedures developed recently by Hayes (2022). Results show that hardiness was a significant moderator, with cadets low in hardiness showing increased eating disorder symptoms and more general health symptoms. While gender was not a significant moderator with respect to eating disorder symptoms, it was significant for general health symptoms; female cadets showed more stress-related health symptoms than their male counterparts. These results suggest that eating disorder symptoms in military academy cadets and college students more generally may be reduced through programs aimed at developing hardiness attitudes and stress coping approaches.

Navigating Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Access: Qualitative Insights From Black Women at a Northeastern Historically Black College and University.

Black women are essential to ending the HIV epidemic in the United States; yet prevention, access, testing, and structural racism affect how HIV disproportionately affects them. Limited public health research focuses on Black women attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and the ability to address HIV prevention, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake. PrEP is a once-daily oral pill used to prevent HIV transmission and has suboptimal uptake within the Black community. This generic qualitative descriptive analysis identifies the barriers and facilitators of PrEP uptake among Black women attending an HBCU using the health belief model. Overall, 22 Black college women participated in a 60-minute focus group. Emergent categories were as follows: (a) Barriers-stigma, cost, and side effects; (b) Facilitators-PrEP's effectiveness, exposure to HIV, and unprotected sex. Our findings can inform future efforts to increase PrEP uptake among Black women attending an HBCU.

Socio-Economic Status of Women Teachers Employees in India

Abstract: Sexual orientation discrimination in India is the chief reason that has influenced women's socio- economic turn of events. Women in country territories are known to need sufficient offices and education for their turn of events. Most women in country zones have less access to social insurance. Most of women in towns are housewives and work for their occupation in the homestead division. In this study we concentrated on the socio-economic status of women employees of women teachers. The point of this study is to choose the distinction between the economic and cultural position, the association between the fragment status of women teachers and their economic prosperity, the association between the portion status of women teachers and their economic status, and to study the association between the profile components of women teachers and their social position. In the current study we inspect the relationship between the elements of the profile of the female teachers and their satisfaction at work. For this study the A pilot test was conducted and corrections were made in the questionnaire, as were other sources, for example, journals, papers, diaries, reports, articles and related investigations. The scientist gathered information from 300 female respondents picked utilizing a delineated irregular inspecting method. Among the 300 women respondents, 245 are working on a regular basis and 55 are on temporary/Guest basis. Random sampling method to distribute questionnaires was followed by the researcher, and user data was obtained. From the study one can see that strong measures are expected to upgrade the socio-economic status of women instructor employees. Women are intensely tried out advanced education and business. It might be because of government concerns in education and work, and Women's Universities and Colleges being established. In spite of the fact that their proportion is high, contrasted with that of guys, their rank isn't high. Various factors, for example, age, sexual orientation, religion, conjugal status, number of wards, scholarly qualifications, specialized qualifications, position, sort of school, nature of occupation and number of long stretches of experience influence the status of women instructor employees. Along these lines it is essential to improve the socio-economic conditions of women teachers. Female teachers ought to endeavor to find some kind of harmony between their work and family jobs. In addition to encouraging they ought not stop for a second to accept obligations. It builds their organizationalstatus as well as energizes their trust in themselves. Through taking part in different preparing programs, addresses, conferences, workshops and taking up further study courses they can findout to an ever increasing extent

Actions speak: personality, nonverbal behaviors, and self-perceptions of vulnerability in college-aged women

PurposeDespite representing a relatively small portion of the population, those who experience repeat victimization make up a significant share of all sexual and violent crimes, implying that perpetrators target them repeatedly. Indeed, research reveals specific traits (e.g. submissiveness) and behaviors (e.g. gait) related to past victimization or vulnerability. The purpose of this study is to explore the link between personality traits, self-assessed vulnerability and nonverbal cues.Design/methodology/approachIn all, 40 undergraduate Canadian women were videotaped while recording a dating profile. Self-report measures of assertiveness, personality traits and vulnerability ratings for future sexual or violent victimization were obtained following the video-recording. The videotape was coded for nonverbal behaviors that have been related to assertiveness or submissiveness.FindingsSelf-perceived sexual vulnerability correlated with reduced assertiveness and dominance and increased emotionality (e.g. fear and anxiety). Additionally, nonverbal behaviors differed based on personality traits: self-touch was linked to lower assertiveness, dominance and extraversion and higher submissiveness, emotionality and warm-agreeableness.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study of its kind to consider the relationships between personality, self-perceived vulnerability and nonverbal behaviors among college-aged women. Potential implications, including enhancing autonomy and self-efficacy, are discussed.

Work-Life Balance Of Women College Faculties With Special Reference To Palakkad District In Kerala

Work-Life Balance Of Women College Faculties With Special Reference To Palakkad District In Kerala

Exploring the Experiences of College Women in Fields with Disparities in Gender Representation

Although women earn over half of all bachelor’s degrees in the United States, they are not equally represented across fields of study. Research on gender segregation in higher education has expanded, but this primarily quantitative work tends to neglect the voices of the college women who are experiencing gender-segregated settings firsthand. Our research explores the experiences of women majoring in fields where gender representation is unequal. Sixteen women undergraduates took part in interviews, with half coming from majors classified as women-minority, and half from majors designated as women-majority. Findings demonstrate that women in women-minority majors and women in women-majority majors differ in how they describe their experiences around three themes: relationships with classmates, relationships with professors, and the emotional impact of major demographics. This article concludes by exploring implications for higher education.

Preliminary Efficacy of a Web-Based Alcohol and Emotion Regulation Intervention on Sexual Risk Behaviors Among College Women.

Using substances before sex may affect sexual decision-making among young women and increase their risk for a variety of negative consequences, including sexual victimization, sexually transmitted infections, and unintended pregnancies. A brief, web-based intervention combining alcohol reduction strategies with emotion regulation skills demonstrated initial efficacy at reducing heavy drinking and improving emotion regulation abilities among college women with sexual victimization histories. The present study represents a secondary analysis of this intervention to evaluate its preliminary efficacy in reducing sexual risk behaviors, specifically alcohol and other drug use before sex. The sample comprised 200 heavy-drinking college women with histories of sexual victimization randomized to an assessment-only control or the intervention consisting of 14 brief online alcohol reduction and emotion regulation skill-building modules administered daily over a 2-week period. The analytic sample included 173 women who reported their substance use before sex at baseline and at least one of two (1-month and/or 6-month) follow-up surveys. Repeated-measures mixed models revealed significant time-by-intervention interaction effects on alcohol use. Women who received the intervention had a significant decrease in alcohol use before sex from baseline to 1-month follow-up. Although levels of alcohol use before sex continued to be lower at the 6-month follow-up relative to baseline, differences did not reach statistical significance. Time-by-intervention interaction effects on drug use before sex were not statistically significant. Skills to reduce alcohol use and improve emotion regulation skills may be beneficial in helping women make adaptive decisions surrounding their sexual well-being.