A School Psychologist's Role in Decreasing Eating Disorder Prevalence in School-Aged Children
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University of Northern Iowa UNI ScholarWorks Graduate Research Papers Student Work 2002 A school psychologist's role in decreasing eating disorder prevalence in school-aged children Natalie Muth University of Northern Iowa Let us know how access to this document benefits ouy Copyright ©2002 Natalie Muth Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/grp Part of the Counseling Commons, Education Commons, Health Psychology Commons, and the Mental Disorders Commons Recommended Citation Muth, Natalie, "A school psychologist's role in decreasing eating disorder prevalence in school-aged children" (2002). Graduate Research Papers. 1237. https://scholarworks.uni.edu/grp/1237 This Open Access Graduate Research Paper is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Work at UNI ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Research Papers by an authorized administrator of UNI ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A school psychologist's role in decreasing eating disorder prevalence in school- aged children Abstract Eating disorders have dramatically increased over the last 20 years, resulting in prevalence rates exceeding other high-incidence medical conditions treated in the educational setting. Chapter 2 presents a review of literature covering eating disorder identification, history, prevalence and epidemiological data. Theoretical perspectives, risk and protective factors, symptoms, and medical complications are also reviewed. Current assessment measures used for screening and diagnosing anorexia and bulimia is additionally presented along with a summary of school-based primary prevention programs. The second chapter concludes with a brief overview of eating disorder treatment. A summary is presented in chapter 3 along with implications for school psychologists. Suggestions for school psychologists include utilizing education, valid assessment procedures, and primary prevention programs at the elementary and secondary educational levels. This open access graduate research paper is available at UNI ScholarWorks: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/grp/1237 A SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST'S ROLE IN DECREASING EATING DISORDER PREYALENCE IN SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN A Research Paper in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of the Degree Masters of Arts Natalie Muth University of Northern Iowa June 2002 11 This Research Paper by: Natalie J. Muth Entitled: A School Psychologist's Role in Preventing Eating Disorder Prevalence in School-Aged Children Has been approved as meeting the research paper requirement for the Degree of Master ofArts in Education: Educational Psychology Dr. B~rry Wilson, Direction of Research Paper Dr. Donald Schmits, Director of Research Paper Dr. Barry Wilson, Faculty Advisor Dr. Barry Wilson, Head, Department of Educational Psychology & Foundations ~ 13,) c?&cJJ_ Date Approved 111 Abstract Eating disorders have dramatically increased over the last 20 years, resulting in prevalence rates exceeding other high-incidence medical conditions treated in the educational setting. Chapter 2 presents a review of literature covering eating disorder identification, history, prevalence and epidemiological data. Theoretical perspectives, risk and protective factors, symptoms, and medical complications are also reviewed. Current assessment measures used for screening and diagnosing anorexia and bulimia is additionally presented along with a summary of school-based primary prevention programs. The second chapter concludes with a brief overview of eating disorder treatment. A summary is presented in chapter 3 along with implications for school psychologists. Suggestions for school psychologists include utilizing education, valid assessment procedur,es, and primary prevention programs at the elementary and secondary educational levels. IV Table of Contents CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION AND ORGANIZATION ................................... ! Introduction ................................................................................... 1 Statement of Problem ..................................., ..................................... 2 Significance of Problem ..................................................................... 2 Organization of Paper........................................................................ 3 CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF LITERATURE .................................................... .4 Definition of Eating Disorders ............................................................ .4 Historical Background ...................................................................... 6 Prevalence Data ..................................................................................... 7 Epidemiological Data ........................................................................ 8 Mal~s verses Females .............................................................. 8 Cross Cultural Comparisons ...................................................... 9 -Age of Onset. ...................................................................... 10 Theoretical Perspectives: The Biopsychosocial Model. .............................. 1O Biological Features ............................................................... 1O PsychologicalFeatures ........................................................... 12 Sexual abuse ...................... ·......................................... 12 Developmental issues ..................................................... 13 Personality features ...................................................... 14 Social Features ..................................................................... 14 Family systems ........................................................... 14 V Society .................................................................... 17 Risk and Protective Factors Associated with Eating Disorder ...................... 17 Risk Factors ........................................................................ 18 Protective Factors ................................., ................................ 19 Symptoms of Eating Disorders .......................................................... .21 Anorexia Nervosa .................................................................21 Bulimia Nervosa .................................................................. 22 Medical Complications Associated with Eating Disorders ...........................23 Assessment of Eating Disorders .......................................................... 24 Adult Questionnaires Used in the Child and Adolescent Populations ...... 25 The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT) ....................................... 25 ,The Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) .................................. 26 The Questionnaire of Eating Disorder Diagnoses (Q-EDD) ....... .27 The Setting Conditions for Anorexia Nervosa Scale (SCANS) ... .28 The Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) ................................ 28 The Body Satisfaction Scale (BSS) .................................. .29 Measures Specifically Designed for Children and Adolescent ............. 30 The Children's Eating Attitude Test (ChEAT) ...................... 30 The Kids Eating Disorder Survey (KEDS) ........................... 30 Interview Measures ............................................................... 31 Family Assessment. .............................................................. 32 Review of School Primary Prevention Programs ..................................... .32 Vl Treatment. ................................................................................... 38 Behavioral Treatment. ............................................................ 39 Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment. .............................................. .40 Interpersonal Therapy ........................... , ................................ .41 Family Therapy ....................................................................42 Hospitalization and Medication .................................................. 42 CHAPTER 3: SUMMARY/CONCLUSION .................................................. .43 Summary .................................................................................... 43 Implications for School Psychologists .................................................. .44 REFERENCES ......................................................................................4 7 1 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION Introduction American culture increasingly places a premium on physical attractiveness and thinness. For the past 3 decades media standards of ideal shape have shifted considerably (Dyer & Tiggerman, 1999). Looking at body measurement sfatistics of Playboy centerfolds and beauty pageant contestants over the last 25 years reveals a slight increase in the heights of the women but a dramatic decrease in weight. Over the same period of time, articles on new and exciting diets have appeared in women's magazines. Most people living in developed nations receive a constant stream of impressions from television commercials which use young, attractive, and very thin women to advertise products such as soft drinks, security investments, cars, computers, fast foods, etc. Media messages stress how desirable it is for women to be attractive and slender. The messages particularly influence teenage females at a period when they are seeking to gain independence, compete with peers, and to define,their identity (Gordon, 2000). Body image plays a significant role in how individuals choose to identify themselves. Achieving the ideal body image is thought to