Media Helps to Promote Eating Disorders - Essay Example

Abnormal Psychology 07 July 2007 Eating Disorders Introduction “Mirror, mirror on the wall who is the fattest of them all?” (Thompson,Colleen 2007) The general area under examination is eating disorders. Specifically, this paper would attempt to examine the effect of removing mirrors from treatment clinic on an individual with an eating disorder. This examination is critical to the improving the overall detrimental effect on the psyche, emotional and physical well-being of an individual with an eating disorder. Background/Review of the Literature The public is constantly bombarded by unrealistic images of individuals who appear to be looking in peak condition. Many young adolescent women, especially those with low self confidence believe that their looks are responsible for every area of their lives. In particular, they view their every failure as directly related to their looks. Unfortunately, these images have all been modified by make-up and other artificial means to look “good” in the public eye. Thus, researchers have found that the media helps to promote eating disorders. (Bardick et al. 2004, Faiad, 2006) Other factors influential in the onslaught of eating disorders are maternal and paternal influences, childhood overweight, peer pressure and frequent talking about weight ,to name a few. There are many types of eating disorders. The Something Fishy Website for Eating Disorders names Bulimia Nervosa, Anorexia Nervosa, Compulsive Overeating, Pica, Binge Eating Disorder, Body Dimorphic Disorder, Orthorexia Nervosa, Night Eating Syndrome, Sleep Eating Disorder, Prader-Willi Syndrome and Bigorexia.The two most popular are Bulimia Nervosa and Anorexia Nervosa. Researchers posit that two main risk factors of an eating disorder include social pressure to be thin and thin body preoccupation. Further, they have concluded that there is an association between low self esteem and concern with body shape and weight. Hence disturbance of one’s body image is also a risk factor in the development of an eating disorder. (Agras et al, 2006 , Ferraro, 2003, Delinsky and Wilson, 2006, Benninghoven, 2006) Consistent with this idea, Vocks et al, 2007 proposed that “A disturbed body image is a main characteristic of bulimia nervosa and plays an important role in the development and maintenance of the eating disorder.” (6) In direct relation to body image distortion is the concept of body checking behaviors. Body checking is the act of frequently checking aspects of one’s body in a number ways. The method pertinent to this study is the ritual of constantly examining oneself in the mirror. Mountford, 2003 suggested that body checking behaviors are central to the maintenance of the eating disorders. She argues that this is one aspect of treatment that has not been developed. (1) Researchers have hypothesized that “body checking magnifies perceived imperfections, serving to maintain body size preoccupation” (qtd in Mountford 2). Further, investigators have confirmed that more than half of the individuals with eating disorders revealed that body checking influenced their “sense of self, eating, weight or shape.” (2) An alternative to body checking is the concept of body image avoidance. Explicitly, individuals with Body Dysmorphic Disorder, a mental disorder that entails a distorted body image, believe they will “feel worse if they resist gazing.” (Mountford 6) Thus, they regularly report distress after looking. Nonetheless, when they actually refrain from gazing there is “no significant increase in distress.”(6) In agreement with the critical role of body checking and active avoidance are the conclusions of Delinsky and Wilson. They asserted that the “frequency of body checking and avoidance is associated with the overevaluation of weight and shape among patients.” (7)They claimed that these two concepts maintain patient’s preoccupation and dissatisfaction with their weight and shape. (7) In light of the vital role of active avoidance in eating disorders, it would be necessary to include some dimension of its study to this research. Rationale The specific question to be addressed is “Will removing mirrors in treatment clinics help people with eating disorders?” The theory persistently points to the importance of body image to the development of an eating disorder. The National Eating Disorder Association defines body image as “how you see yourself when you look in the mirror or picture yourself in your mind.” They posit that a negative body image is “a distorted perception of your shape...you feel ashamed, self-conscious, and anxious about your body.” Contrastingly, a positive self image is “a clear true perception of your shape—you see the various parts of your body as they really are.” Hence, there is strong support for the investigation into the effect of mirrors in a treatment clinic. If this hypothesis is in fact true then not only will this concept reduce the individual’s length of stay at a treatment clinic and hence improve the quality of life on an individual level but it would also signal a break through for the treatment of patients with eating disorders, consequently benefitting the overall area of eating disorders and abnormal psychology. On the other hand if the hypothesis is not true then the field of eating disorder would have benefitted from added research in this particular field. At present, this field is so starved for research that a disconfirmed hypothesis could be used as a reason to generate further studies in the field of eating disorders. Although eating disorders have everything to do with body image and a preoccupation with food very little has been said about the use of mirrors within the disorder or as a means of preventing or treating the disorder. In spite of the plethora of literature available on eating disorders insufficient data can be obtained pertaining to the direct limitation of exposure to one’s body image. In addition, research is sparse in relation to gender differences in the preoccupation of body image. Interestingly, there is an abundance of research on the prevention of eating disorders in comparison to the meager quantity on treatment. The National Eating Disorder Association states that there are about “10 million females and I million males” struggling in “a life and death battle with an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia. Millions more are struggling with binge eating disorder.” Given that eating disorders are associated with secrecy and shame the National Eating Disorder Association adds that these figures may be larger than what is actually reported. Moreover, 80% of American women are dissatisfied with their appearance. Dissatisfaction with appearance is one of the major risk factors in eating disorders. (Vocks 2007, Thompson 2007, Rosevinge 2002, Agras 2007 and Kowalski 2003) Furthermore, there appears to be an absence of information in the area of ethnographic data and longitudinal studies on patients with eating disorders in a treatment clinic. As a result of these intimidating statistics and previous research, this researcher believes that there is an urgent need for more research in the treatment factor of these disorders. Delinsky and Wilson, 2006 have investigated the concept of Mirror Exposure in the treatment of eating disorders but no one has examined the opposing end of this strategy that is the removal of mirrors from the treatment clinic. For this reason, one unanswered question, this paper would like to address would be the effect of the removal of mirrors from a treatment clinic on reducing the length of time within a treatment program. Method In order to test this hypothesis, it would first be necessary to liaise with the psychologists, the medical doctors, the care-givers and other personnel from the treatment clinic. In addition, an ethical approval would be sought before pursuing this particular study. The relevant personnel would then be asked to recommended patients from the treatment clinic based on specific criteria. The sample population would then be chosen through random sampling. This method would be the best method for the purpose of ensuring that everyone has a fair chance of being chosen. The sample would include all patients who are receiving treatment in an inpatient clinic who have been recommended by the psychologists and psychiatrists as having the capacity to participate in the study. Our aim would be to seek out patients with Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa. This is to form an easier comparison to the research done by Delinsky and Wilson (2006) on Mirror Exposure. The sample would also be chosen from patients who agree to participate in the study based on informed consent. Eating disorders can affect young, old, rich, poor, every colour and every race. Consequently, the preferred age range would be from 12 to 24 years of age. For generalizability of the data the authors would target two clinics where there is a high rate of diversity in age and race. The sample would attempt to obtain individuals from the various ethnic and racial groups represented in the United States with emphasis on English speaking patients. The design of this study would be relatively straight forward in that mirrors would be removed from the treatment cite and systematically returned at appropriate times. Hence, the study would span over the period of treatment for the designated sample. Like the strategies adopted by Benninghoven in his research on Changes in Body Image, this study would adopt “noninvasive, approved and easy to administer methods.” (3) One difference that would be necessary for confirmation of the present hypothesis would be a significant increase in the patient’s body image as compared to the control group. The control group would be those who have access to mirrors and other intervention strategies at the clinic. In comparison to the tested group who will not have access to mirrors for a specified period. Discussions about their perceptions of their body image would remain as a constant for both groups. Participants would be observed for changes in their body image through Socratic questioning. Initially the participants would not be exposed to any mirror images of themselves but through systematic desensitization they would again be exposed. This reintroduction of mirrors is to ensure that excessive body checking and avoidance of body image are equally addressed in the treatment process. Both the control group and the tested group would be tested for their overall improvement or reduction in positive self image. After a specified time the tested group would again be exposed to mirrors. The differences in the responses of both groups to the exposure or non exposure to mirrors would be examined. The results would be analysed using the analysis of variance ANOVA and chi-square to assess the equivalence between the two groups. Paired t-tests would be used to determine the differences in the findings between the control group and the test group. A significant difference in positive body image for the tested group would indicate that the tested hypothesis has been confirmed. Contrastingly, a significant increase in negative body image would suggest that the hypothesis has been rejected. Significance and Conclusions The significance of this study is to further the research in this stifled area of abnormal psychology. Mirror Exposure has been studied by Delinsky and Wilson, 2006 and has been found to have a positive effect on the treatment of individuals with eating disorders. However, the rapid increase in eating disorders amongst our youths would mandate that we attempt to investigate all the possible solutions for a speedy recovery from this potentially life threatening disorder. The investigation of the removal of mirrors from treatment clinic would only add to the limited knowledge that exists on the treatment of eating disorders. Works Cited Agras, Stewart,W. Childhood Risk Factors for Thin Body Preoccupation and Social Pressure to be Thin. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. (2007): 46 .2 171-178 Anorexia Nervosa and related Eating Disorders.04 February 2006. 03July 2007. Bardick, Angela, D. et al. Eating Disorder Intervention, prevention, and treatment: Recommendation for School Counselors. Professional school Counseling (2004):8.2 168-175 Benninghoven, D.et al. Different Changes of Body-Images in Patients with Anorexia or Bulimia Nervosa during Inpatient Psychosomatic Treatment. European Eating Disorders Review. (2006): 14 88-96 Delinsky, S and Wilson, T. Mirror Exposure for the Treatment of Body Image Disturbance. International Journal of Eating Disorders (2006):39.2 108-116 Faiad, Andrea. Dying to be thin. Current Health. (2006): 2 33.3 20-22 Ferraro, Richard,F. et al. Processing Fat –Related Information in Individuals at Risk for developing an Eating Disorder. The Journal of Psychology (2003):137.5 467-475 Kowalski, Kathiann, M. Body Image. Current Health. (2003):2 29.7 6-12 Mountford, Victoria. Body Checking in the Eating Disorders: Associations between Cognitions and Behaviours. International Journal of Eating Disorders (2006):39.8 708–715 National Eating Disorder Association. 2002. 01 July 2007. Rosevinge, Roald, B et al. The Effect of exercise, cognitive therapy, and nutritional counseling in treating bulimia nervosa. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise (2002): 34.2 190-195 The Something Fishy Website on Eating Disorders. 05 July 2007. Thompson, Colleen. 23 May 2007. 01 July 2007. Vocks, S. et al. Static and Dynamic Body Image in Bulimia Nervosa: Mental Representation of Body Dimensions and Biological Motion Patterns. International Journal of Eating Disorders (2007):40.1 59–66 Read More