An Exploration Of Queer Women's Relationship With The Body And Physical Activity, Jade A. Bailey

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Traditional physical activity contexts are male-dominated, cis-heteronormative, and perpetuate Western beauty standards. Research has identified that queer women experience the lowest rates of physical activity participation, compared to other LGBTQ+ groups. The present study investigated the relationship between queer women’s (N = 70) body image, physical activity behaviour, and experiences. Participants completed one virtual focus group and four themes were identified: The Queer Women’s Body is Political; (in)Visibility of Sexual and Gender Identity in Physical Activity; Hypervigilance to Maintain Safety and Reduce Perpetuating Gender-Based Violence; and Desire for Spaces that Foster Safety, Belonging, and Connection. Findings revealed that queer …

Endorsement (And Rejection) Of Normative Fitness Culture: Qualitative Evidence For A Novel Construct, Sara M. Stanley, Eva Pila, Katarina Huellemann

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

“Normative fitness culture” is a phenomenon within the disordered eating literature that comprises the endorsement of sociocultural fitness norms (e.g., “no pain, no gain” rhetoric). Endorsement of normative fitness culture is hypothesized to contribute to maladaptive body, eating, and exercise attitudes and behaviours, though it has never been formally operationalized and examined in the psychological literature. Qualitative explorations of how women endorse (and reject) normative fitness culture may inform how these norms are promoted and maintained, and their impact on individual psychosocial experiences. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to explore and characterize the endorsement and rejection of …

An Environmental Scan Of Weight-Inclusive Resources, Sara A. Bozzo

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

This summer, alongside another USRI student, I began to further explore weight-inclusive physical activity. This approach to movement emphasizes that health and well-being can be achieved by anyone, regardless of their size, if provided with accessible, non-stigmatizing environments and support. Though this approach has increased in prevalence over the years, little is known about the application of weight-inclusive approaches in real-world contexts. Using an environmental scan protocol, this study will aim to examine the breadth of online weight-inclusive resources and services within grey literature (internet, social media, experts); synthesize and evaluate the content within identified materials; and discover gaps in …

Adolescent Girls Physical Activity Engagement And Body Image Development, Vanessa Coulbeck

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

This summer I looked more into adolescent girls’ physical activity engagement and its’ relationship to weight-based teasing. This topic intrigued me because from my own sport experiences, I saw first-hand how compared to boys, adolescent girls dis-engage from sport and exercise at a disproportionately higher rate and are at higher risk for body shame and self-objectification. This gender inequity in sport and physical activity is first observed in adolescence and tracks well into adulthood. The purpose of this summer's research activities examined how self-compassion and weight-related teasing relate to self-conscious emotions and sport and physical activity participation.

The Effect Of Feminist Identity On Women's Conceptualizations Of Beauty And Body-Based Stigma: A Conceptual Replication And Extension, Courtney C. Hillier

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Research in the area of feminist identity and body image has produced mixed results. Some evidence suggests that feminist identity may be protective against negative body image in women. The current study was an independent partial conceptual replication and extension of Roy et al. (2007) and examines the experimental effect of feminist self-identification on forms of internalized body stigma. After completion of baseline measures, undergraduate women (N = 149) were assigned to one of three experimental conditions and read about either a positive portrayal of feminists, negative portrayal of feminists, or non-feminist-related topic. Participants then completed measures of feminist …

‘Instead Of Life In Prison, It Was Life In My Own Skin’: Scope And Limitations Of A Week-Long Daily Online Self-Compassionate Writing Intervention For Young Women’S Body Image, Katarina Huellemann

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Self-compassion involves reappraising negative events, accepting uncomfortable emotions, and practicing self-kindness. This thesis examined the effect of cultivating self-compassion via daily self-compassionate writing completed online for one week on stigmatizing and affirming self-perceptions in young undergraduate women. Undergraduate women (N = 254) were randomly assigned to one of the three conditions (i.e., self-compassionate writing, attentional-control, wait-list control) and completed measures of trait self-compassion, fear of self-compassion, affirming self-perceptions (i.e., body appreciation and broad conceptualization of beauty), and stigmatizing self-perceptions (i.e., self-objectification and phenomenological body shame) at baseline, post-test, and one-month follow-up. Hypotheses were tested using MANCOVA and a latent …

Experiences Regarding Nutrition And Exercise Among Women During Early Postpartum: A Qualitative Grounded Theory Study, Beth Murray-Davis, Lindsay Grenier, Stephanie A. Atkinson, Michelle F. Mottola, Olive Wahoush, Lehana Thabane, Feng Xie, Jennifer Vickers-Manzin, Caroline Rosenblatt, David Watkins, Avraham Shaag, Stanley H. Korman, Samuel N. Heyman, Aya Gal, J. P. Newman, Bettina Steiner-Birmanns, Oded Abramsky, Yoav Kohn

Paediatrics Publications

Background: Excess gestational weight gain has long- and short-term implications for women and children, and postpartum weight retention is associated with an increased risk of long-term obesity. Despite the existence of dietary and exercise guidelines, many women struggle to return to pre-pregnancy weight. Experiences of women in tackling postpartum weight loss are poorly understood. We undertook this study to explore experiences related to nutrition, exercise and weight in the postpartum in women in Ontario, Canada. Methods: This was a nested qualitative study within The Be Healthy in Pregnancy Study, a randomized controlled trial. Women randomized to the control group were …

Relationship Between Body Image And Physical Functioning Following Rehabilitation For Lower-Limb Amputation, Jessica Desrochers, Courtney Frengopoulos, Michael W.C. Payne, Ricardo Viana, Susan W. Hunter

Physical Therapy Publications

The aim of the present study was to evaluate change in body image and the association between body image at discharge and mobility 4 months after rehabilitation. A prospective cohort comprising adults older than or equal to 50 years of age undergoing rehabilitation for first major lower-limb amputation at an inpatient prosthetic rehabilitation program were assessed at discharge and 4 months after rehabilitation. Paired t-tests compared total Amputee Body Image Scale (ABIS), gait velocity, and L-test scores between discharge (T1) and 4 months (T2). Multivariable linear regression assessed relationship between ABIS scores and mobility. Nineteen participants completed assessments …

The Impact Of Beauty, Body Image, And Health Discourses On Eating Disorder Risk In South Asian-Canadian Women, Nazia Bhatti

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study explores socio-cultural influences that impact South Asian women’s self-perceptions and eating behaviours. The findings revealed that cultural gender ideologies played a substantial role in shaping the way women view themselves and their bodies. The analysis of interviews conducted with seven South Asian-Canadian women between the ages of 19-29 years, demonstrate that women’s perceptions of their own physical appearance is framed within the context of their South Asian cultural identity and cultural norms. This study was approached through the lens of post-colonial feminism by examining cultural factors that contribute to South Asian women’s increased risk for developing eating disorders. …

Body Image And Quality Of Life: An Exploration Among Individuals With Head And Neck Cancer, Melissa M. Nash

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Background: One of the most distressing aspects of head and neck cancer (HNC) is the potential for physical disfigurement. Such changes may impact one’s body image (BI) with a secondary potential to impact long-term functioning; hence, changes in perceived BI may be seen as a critical component that influences post-treatment quality of life (QOL).

Methods: Forty participants completed 4 validated questionnaires during regular clinical follow-up visits.

Results: Perception of BI image does influence perception of QOL following HNC treatment(s), yet perceptions are highly individualized. Gender related differences are notable on BI questionnaire scores.

Conclusions: Data suggest that efforts to …

An Autoethnographical Tapestry Of Feminist Reflection On My Journey Of A Fitness Model Physique, Stephanie A. Paplinskie

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Weight training and fitness competitions are increasingly popular activities for many women seeking an aesthetically fit body. This thesis entails a critical reflection of the various factors surrounding my personal decision to partake in body sculpting, examining how these factors parallel the experience of other women in the fitness industry. Using a feminist theoretical framework and autoethnography, a history of feminist theory is incorporated to demonstrate some of the various perspectives surrounding women bodies. Two challenges for women are discussed in this paper: i) the fear of fat, and how it is connected to a woman’s initial decision to attend …

The Effects Of A Media Literacy Intervention On Women’S Body Dissatisfaction: Watching And Exercising To A Fitness Video, Joy G. Elkavam

Digitized Theses

This study sought to compare the effects of a media literacy intervention to an attention control on women’s body dissatisfaction after watching and exercising to a fitness video. Using a crossover design, 83 infrequent exercisers (M age = 24.54) with moderate to higher body dissatisfaction, including a sub-sample of women with higher body dissatisfaction (n=22; M age = 26.73), randomly received a media literacy intervention or attention control materials. Participants then watched and exercised to the video. The Appearance Evaluation and Body Areas Satisfaction subscales were administered at baseline, after watching, and after exercising to the video. Contrary to hypotheses, …

The Impact Of Body Composition Feedback On Body Image, Motivation, And Adherence In An Exercise Program For Women, Erin S. Pearson

Digitized Theses

Given the magnitude of health consequences resulting from physical inactivity, a need exists for the development of strategies which enhance adoption of and adherence to exercise programs. Some exercise intervention studies have examined body image change in relation to change in body composition (i.e., the relative amount of fat-free mass vs. fat mass in the body). However, these studies have produced mixed results with some studies showing no relationship between change in body image and change in body composition and others showing a significant relationship. One reason for these mixed findings may be due to how body composition has been …