Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Untangling The Associations Between Generalized Anxiety And Body Dissatisfaction: The Mediating Effects Of Social Physique Anxiety Among Collegiate Men And Women, Mary Pritchard, Kyle Brasil, Ryon Mcdermott, Anna Holdiman

Psychological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Researchers disagree on which types of anxiety influence body dissatisfaction and how gender (cisgender men vs. cisgender women) may impact these associations. Specifically, little is known about how generalized anxiety and social physique anxiety combine to predict body dissatisfaction in men and women. The purpose of the present study was to explore a moderated mediation model in which the relationships between generalized anxiety and body dissatisfaction (drive for thinness and drive for muscularity) were mediated by social physique anxiety and moderated by gender. Data from 423 U.S. college students (n = 259 women) were analyzed using multigroup structural equation …

Peer Influence: Use Of Alcohol, Tobacco, And Prescription Medications, Mary E. Pritchard, Alberto Varela

Psychological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Objective: Risk-taking behavior (e.g., alcohol abuse, tobacco usage, misuse of prescription medications) among college students is a widespread problem. Our study focused not only on the frequency of risky health behaviors in college students, but also the companions with whom they engaged in such behaviors.

Methods: Three hundred and twelve college students completed a survey examining the frequency with which they engaged in alcohol, tobacco, and improper prescription medication use, as well as with whom they were most likely to engage in these behaviors.

Results: Results indicated that participants were most likely to take health risks when accompanied by someone …

Does Self Esteem Moderate The Relation Between Gender And Weight Preoccupation In Undergraduates?, Mary E. Pritchard

Psychological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Previous research has established gender differences in self esteem as well as weight preoccupation. In addition self esteem is known to relate to weight preoccupation. However, no studies have examined whether self esteem moderates the relation between gender and weight preoccupation. Five hundred sixty seven undergraduates completed surveys assessing self esteem and weight preoccupation. Results showed significant gender differences in self esteem and weight preoccupation. In addition, the interaction between self esteem and gender had a small but significant effect on weight preoccupation. Counselors should be aware of this when designing programs to treat weight preoccupation in conjunction with low …

Disordered Eating In Undergraduates: Does Gender Role Orientation Influence Men And Women The Same Way?, Mary Pritchard

Psychological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Previous studies have examined the influence of femininity on disordered eating behavior in female undergraduates, but few studies have examined the relation between gender roles and disordered eating in male undergraduates. The present study examined whether gender roles relate to disordered eating behaviors the same way in male and female undergraduates. 512 undergraduates (58% female) at a large university in the Pacific West region of the United States responded to a survey asking about eating behaviors and gender role orientation. Women displayed higher levels of disordered eating than did men. Undifferentiated and masculine women had higher levels of disordered eating …

Adult Attachment And Disordered Eating In Undergraduate Men And Women, Jenna Elgin, Mary Pritchard

Psychological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Previous research on gender differences between males and females on the risk factors leading to disordered eating is sparse, especially on males and eating disorders using attachment theory. This study examined the relationship between adult attachment style and disordered eating in men and women. Secure attachment scores were significantly negatively correlated with body dissatisfaction, and fearful attachment scores were positively correlated with bulimia in women. For men, secure attachment was significantly negatively correlated to drive for thinness, bulimia, and body dissatisfaction. Clinical implications are discussed.