Child and Adolesent Disorders

James Woolyhand

                                                Psyx 345 review paper

                                                    April 9, 2010

Problem Statement:

      This article examines the prevalence and consequences of body dissatisfaction among adolescent boys and girls and discusses the role of body dissatisfaction in psychological disorders, including depression and eating disorders. Additionally, it explores predictors of the development of body dissatisfaction, including individual, familial, peer, and socio-cultural influences, as well as factors that may serve a protective function. An understanding of the factors that increase the risk for body dissatisfaction can help guide prevention efforts. Given the complexity of the development of body image concerns, interventions aimed at reducing body dissatisfaction will likely need to target multiple factors.   According to the article, recent studies show that approximately 60% of girls and 30% of boys desire to change the shape and appearance of their body (Presnel et al 389).   Body dissatisfaction in adolescents has proven to be associated with high levels of subjective stress, unhealthy weight control behaviors, and extreme methods of altering appearance, such as cosmetic surgery and steroid use.   The goal of this study is to investigate the risk factors for body dissatisfaction in a sample of adolescent boys and girls.   Researchers hypothesize that socio-cultural pressure endorses an ultra-thin figure for women and a lean, muscular one for men. As these ideals become increasingly difficult to attain, a sense of dissatisfaction develops.   In addition to socio-cultural pressures, other risk factors include biological factors, as well as individual risk factors such as dieting and negative mood.
Methods:
The methodology that the authors used to test their hypotheses was a study sample comprised of 531 adults (238 boys and 293 girls) ranging in ages from 16-19.   The sample was...