School milieu characteristics and disordered eating in high school graduates

✍ Scribed by Striegel-Moore, Ruth H. ;Connor-Greene, Patricia A. ;Shime, Sandra

• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 1991
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 377 KB
• Volume: 10
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0276-3478
• DOI: 10.1002/1098-108x(199103)10:2<187::aid-eat2260100207>3.0.co;2-o

✦ Synopsis

Research has confirmed a relationship between our culture's emphasis on thinnes, and disordered eating. The present study sought to expand our understanding of the relationship between sociocultural variables and disordered eating. It hypothesized that students from high 5chools that encourage competitiveness, value traditional feminine behaviors and conformity to traditional norm,, and discourage social support and interpersonal involvements among students are particularly likely to report symptoms of disordered eating and related psychopathology. Social climate mea- sures, an abbreviated Eating Disorders Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the UCLA Loneliness Scale were completed by 2 I 1 female high 5chool graduates recruited among the incoming students of two US. campuses. The hypothesi5 of elevated scores on measures of disordered eating among females from schools perceived as ernpha5izing competitiveness and traditional feminine and dependent behaviors was not confirmed. Resu/ts, however, suggested a modest relationship between perception of the high school as low in social involvement and feelings of ineffectiveness and loneliness.