Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Attitudes Towards Anorexia Nervosa: Volitional Stigma Differences In A Sample Of Pre-Clinical Medicine And Psychology Students, Amy Bannatyne, Peta Stapleton

Peta B. Stapleton

Background:

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a highly stigmatised condition, with treatment often involving multidisciplinary care. As such, understanding and comparing the attitudes of emerging mental health and medical professionals towards AN, within the content of sex-based differences, is pertinent to facilitate the development of targeted stigma interventions.

Aims:

Examine the volitional stigmatisation of AN in emerging medical and mental health professionals.

Method:

Participants (N = 126) were medical (n = 41) and psychology students (n = 85) who completed a range of attitudinal outcome measures (e.g. Causal Attributions Scale, Eating Disorder Stigma Scale, Opinions Scale, Characteristics Scale and Affective Reaction …

Body Image Avoidance, Body Dissatisfaction, And Eating Pathology: Is There A Difference Between Male Gym Users And Non–Gym Users?, Peta Stapleton, Timothy Mcintyre, Amy Bannatyne

Peta B. Stapleton

With research highlighting the increasing prevalence and severity of body image and eating disturbances in males, particularly athletes and regular gymnasium users, the current study examined body image and eating disturbances in a sample of male gym users and non–gym users (N = 180). Based on previous research, it was predicted that male gym users would report greater body image disturbance (e.g., body image avoidance and body dissatisfaction) and eating pathology, compared with non–gym users. Results of the study partially supported hypotheses, revealing body dissatisfaction and eating pathology were significantly increased in male gym users. However, no significant differences were …

Psychosocial Moderators Of Perceived Stress, Anxiety And Depression In University Students: An International Study, Aileen Pidgeon, Stephanie Mcgrath, Heide Magya, Peta Stapleton, Barbara Lo

Peta B. Stapleton

Extensive research shows university students experience high levels of stress, which can lead to the development of mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. Preliminary evidence supports the role of psychosocial factors such as perceived social support (PSS) and campus connectedness (CC) as protective factors in the development of mental health problems in university students. However, research conducted on the potential ameliorating effects of social support on stress applying Cohen and Wills’ (1985) stress-buffering hypothesis produced weak, inconsistent, and even contradictory results. In addition, little attention has been given to examining the protective role of CC in the relationships …

Examining Characteristics Of Resilience Among University Students: An International Study, Aileen Pidgeon, Natasha Rowe, Peta Stapleton, Heidi Magyar, Barbara Lo

Peta B. Stapleton

Attending university is a particularly stressful time due to unique emergent stressors such as changes in environment, loss or diminishment of social support networks, academic pressures, developing peer relationships, and financial management. There is growing recognition that these common stressors may have deleterious effects on the mental health of students. Resilience, a personality characteristic that moderates the negative effects of stress and promotes adaptation, has been associated with increased psychological well-being. Despite a growing body of research on resilience and its clinical significance in preventing mental health problems, relatively little is known about contributing factors for resilience in well-adjusted university …

The Effectiveness Of Educational Interventions In Reducing Negative Attitudes And Stigmatisation Toward Patients With Anorexia Nervosa, Amy Bannatyne, Peta Stapleton

Peta B. Stapleton

It is frequently reported that clinicians across a range of professional disciplines experience strong negative reactions toward patients with eating disorders, particularly anorexia nervosa (AN). As research consistently demonstrates fear of stigma is the most frequently cited reason explaining why individuals with mental illness do not seek treatment, the current study aimed to develop, evaluate and compare the effectiveness of two differing educational interventions, based on an etiological framing model, against a wait-list control. Participants were fourth-year medicine students randomly assigned to one of three conditions. A three-hour educational workshop was delivered to participants at the beginning of an eight-week …