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Eating concerns and media influences in an Irish adolescent context
Author(s) -
McNicholas Fiona,
Lydon Alma,
Len Ruth,
Dooley Barbara
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
european eating disorders review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.511
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1099-0968
pISSN - 1072-4133
DOI - 10.1002/erv.916
Subject(s) - eating disorders , psychopathology , context (archaeology) , irish , population , psychology , medicine , disordered eating , affect (linguistics) , demography , clinical psychology , environmental health , sociology , paleontology , linguistics , philosophy , communication , biology
Objective EPICA is the first large‐scale Irish study of a school‐going population examining the impact of media influences on eating attitudes. Method Students were screened using the EAT‐26, EDI‐III and a study‐specific questionnaire. A sub‐sample of parents' views was included. Results Three thousand and thirty‐one students (mean age 14.74) and 56 parents enrolled. The majority (71.4%) of adolescents felt adversely affected by media portrayal of body weight and shape, with more than a quarter (25.6%) believing it to be ‘far too thin’. A significant correlation between media impact and high EAT scores ( χ 2 = 450.78, df = 2, p < 0.05) and EDI‐III scores ( χ 2 = 387.51, df = 4, p < 0.05) was demonstrated. Parents also view media portrayal as too thin (94.7%), less than half are adversely affected by it (49.2%) but the majority (71.9%) believe their children to be. Conclusion Media portrayal of body weight and shape is correlated with eating psychopathology and may affect adolescents more than adults. School psycho‐educational programmes and media policies are urgently needed to minimise any detrimental effect. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.