Bell C, Cooper M J
Isis Education Centre, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK.
Eat Weight Disord. 2005 Dec;10(4):e97-e100. doi: 10.1007/BF03327499.
There is some evidence for a relationship between socio-cultural variables and the development of disordered eating or concerns. However, the role of individual cognition in adding to this relationship has not yet been investigated. The current study therefore had two main questions. Firstly, which of the socio-cultural factors investigated (parental, peers and the media) predict girls' eating disorder related symptoms? Secondly, do individuals' cognitions add to this prediction? Thirty-eight girls participated in the study. They completed the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT), Eating Disorder Belief Questionnaire (EDBQ), measures of parental, peer and media influence, and a measure of their awareness and internalisation of societal standards of attractiveness. The results indicated that several of the socio-cultural factors were related to girls' EAT score. The belief that being thinner would make boys like them more was the most significant predictor in the whole sample (and in younger girls). Individual cognitions added significantly to this prediction in the whole sample but not in the younger girls. For older girls, the importance of magazines as a source of information about beauty and ideals was the strongest predictor of EAT score, and their cognitions added significantly to this prediction. It is concluded that peer and media influences are important determinants of girls' eating disorder related symptoms. However, individual cognitions add to this relationship, particularly in older girls. The implications and limitations of the study are discussed.
有证据表明社会文化变量与饮食失调或相关担忧的发展之间存在某种关联。然而，个体认知在强化这种关联中所起的作用尚未得到研究。因此，本研究有两个主要问题。第一，在已调查的社会文化因素（父母、同伴和媒体）中，哪些因素能够预测女孩与饮食失调相关的症状？第二，个体认知是否会增强这种预测作用？38名女孩参与了该研究。她们完成了饮食态度测试（EAT）、饮食失调信念问卷（EDBQ）、关于父母、同伴和媒体影响的测量，以及一项关于她们对社会吸引力标准的认知和内化程度的测量。结果表明，若干社会文化因素与女孩的EAT得分相关。认为越瘦会让男孩越喜欢自己的信念是整个样本（以及年龄较小的女孩）中最显著的预测因素。在整个样本中，个体认知显著增强了这种预测作用，但在年龄较小的女孩中并非如此。对于年龄较大的女孩，杂志作为美丽和理想信息来源的重要性是EAT得分的最强预测因素，并且她们的认知显著增强了这种预测作用。研究得出结论，同伴和媒体的影响是女孩与饮食失调相关症状的重要决定因素。然而，个体认知会强化这种关联，尤其是在年龄较大的女孩中。文中讨论了该研究的意义和局限性。
