Stereotypes about Body Dissatisfaction ...

It has often been reported and believed that white women are less satisfied with their bodies than non-white women. New research suggests that this is not the case. A new meta-analysis that was published in the July issue of the Psychological Bulletin (vol. 132, no. 4) provides evidence that this belief about women, race and body image is not what we all thought.

It appears that there is little difference between ethnicities pertaining to a woman's satisfaction with her body. This is important information because it affirms the needs that ALL women have regarding body satisfaction, but it also highlights the need for prevention efforts which reach EVERY woman.

To access the article, follow this LINK which will take you to the American Psychological Asssociation's website.

Effects of Parent's Deployment on Children

A recent study published in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics reports that a third of kids who have a parent who has been deployed is at greater risk for developing psychological problems. More research needs to be done, but what is clear is that kids who have a parent who has been/is deployed have been identified as 'at-risk.' Parents of these kids need to be aware of this, as it relates to the support that their kids may need. Not all kids are affected the same way and this study does not mean all kids with a deployed parent will have psychological problems. What it does mean is that parents need to be aware and can aim to prevent such issues by providing a supportive environment, and seeking professional help if needed.

Information retrieved from this article. For more information, follow the link to read the article.

Educated Family May Mean Higher Eating Disorder Risk

An article published on Reuters recently reported that girls who come from educated families may be at greater risk of developing an eating disorder. This does not mean that girls whose fathers, mothers and grandparents are highly educated are destined to have an eating disorder; however, it reinforces and identifies a group (teenage girls!) who are at risk.

This article was based on a study that followed generations of families in Sweden, specifically families who had girls that were born between 1952 and 1989. While girls whose parents completed college were twice as likely to be treated for an eating disorder than girls whose parents had an elementary school education, the astounding news (to me!) is related to maternal grandmothers' education as predictors of eating disorders. Girls whose maternal grandmothers completed college were six times as likely to be treated for an eating disorder, as compared to girls whose maternal grandmothers only attended elementary school. While it is not clear that greater academic achievement leads to eating disorders, it IS clear that the link exists. The article hypothesizes that expectations may have something to do with it; we have known for awhile that high-achieving girls are at risk for eating disorders, and it is possible that the higher (perceived) expectations that a girl feels (educationally or otherwise), the more at risk a girl is to develop an eating disorder. As mentioned in a previous post about prevention efforts with teenagers, it is important to highlight groups of teenagers that may be at high risk for developing eating disorders, as well as other mental illnesses, to do all that we can to prevent their development.

For the article, follow this link!

The Power of Prevention

The American Psychology Association's journal publication recently published an article on prevention and the effectiveness of prevention efforts on adolescents. According to a recent study put out by the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council, programs and interventions being used to prevent mental, emotional and behavioral disorders in adolescents have proven to be widely effective. These results are significant and important because they reinforce the need and purpose of prevention education, whether in the school system, non-profit sector, or in a counseling setting. When it comes to eating disorders (as well as depression, mood disorders, substance abuse, anxiety, etc), taking preventative measures and efforts is essential.

For more information on this report, follow this link.

The Link Between Depression and Acne in Teens

A recent article in Time magazine, entitled Teen Acne and Depression: Can Mood Worsen Skin?, explores the relationship between a teenager's well-being/mood, and his or her skin. I have heard often and from many different people that stress and depression cause acne, but I have rarely seen articles or studies which highlight the relationship. While more research must be done, this article may be an interesting read for those of you who have teenagers with acne and/or depression, OR for those of you who may have once been a depressed teen, OR if you are a teenager currently experiencing depression or acne.

A Follow-Up to Bullying

I recently wrote a post on bullying at school, in which I included a link to an article on increased efforts to understand and prevent bullying at schools. This article can be found here. I wanted to post a follow-up because I have been coming across more articles on bullying since then that are interesting and informative! I wanted to pass them on. The first one is a brief article which highlights a few statistics, as well as a study on bullying that was recently completed in Finland. The study concluded that young people who are bullied typically experience psychiatric problems later in life. To read this brief article, follow this link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20090916/hl_hsn/scarsofbullyinglinger.

The second article, which can be accessed here,

http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/schooling/bullying/the_wounded_spirit.aspx, is an article from Focus on the Family that explores the lasting effects of bullying on adults. The last article is geared towards parents whose children are being bullied. It advocates being vigilant and aware of your child's emotional well-being, as bullying often results in varying degrees of depression. If your child or teenager is experiencing depression, it is wise to seek professional help, either through counseling or other avenues. Follow this link to read.

Life Without ED

Today's post is dedicated to a book that I think anyone who has ever struggled with an eating disorder (or is currently struggling with one) should read.  Jenni Schaefer, a musician/author/activist, has written this book with the help of Thom Rutledge, a therapist who has counseled her throughout her recovery.

Jenni shares pieces of her personal journey, while also sharing how she has recovered from/learned to manage her eating disorder. She writes about how she has learned to do this with the help of her therapist, who encouraged her to separate herself from her eating disorder, which she affectionately nicknamed ED. 

On her personal website, she has a great page devoted to eating disorder resources/links. Follow this link to check them out. Jenni also has a new book coming out entitled Goodbye Ed, Hello Life.  This book not only focuses on recovery, but the freedom and joy that comes from complete recovery of an eating disorder. She provides hope and encouragement in both books through sharing her experiences and acting as an example that recovery from an eating disorder is possible and that life in recovery can be lived with joy and peace!!

Teenagers and Depression

There was a study that was recently released that suggests teenagers who are depressed and do not receive help are at greater risk of developing serious mental illness later in life.  The implication is that teenagers experiencing depression greatly benefit from receiving treatment and face a reduced risk of developing more serious problems down the road. An article on BBC News that details this study can be found here.

In light of this news, it might be helpful to discuss the warning signs and symptoms of teenage depression, as it differs slightly in presentation from adult depression.  The following are symptoms to watch out for if you believe your teenager is depressed: 

**feelings of worthlessness                               

**tiredness, lack of energy, lethargic               

**sadness                                                              

**hopelessness                                                    

**frequent crying (more than is typical of your teen)

**losing interest/enjoyment in activities which use to be of interest/enjoyment

**social withdrawal (from friends and family members)

**changes in sleep habits and appetite

**difficulty with concentration

**suicidal thoughts or thoughts about dying

Here is a chart, courtesy of HelpGuide.org, which details the major differences between teenage and adult depression.  For more information on this topic, visit http://www.helpguide.org/mental/depression_teen.htm.       

The difference between teenage and adult depression

Depression in teens can look very different from depression in adults. The following symptoms of depression are more common in teenagers than in their adult counterparts:

• Irritable or angry mood – As noted above, irritability, rather than sadness, is often the predominant mood in depressed teens. A depressed teenager may be grumpy, hostile, easily frustrated, or prone to angry outbursts.
• Unexplained aches and pains - Depressed teens frequently complain about physical ailments such as headaches or stomachaches. If a thorough physical exam does not reveal a medical cause, these aches and pains may indicate depression.
• Extreme sensitivity to criticism - Depressed teens are plagued by feelings of worthlessness, making them extremely vulnerable to criticism, rejection, and failure. This is a particular problem for “over-achievers.”
• Withdrawing from some, but not all people - While adults tend to isolate themselves when depressed, teenagers usually keep up at least some friendships. However, teens with depression may socialize less than before, pull away from their parents, or start hanging out with a different crowd.

If you’re unsure if an adolescent in your life is depressed or just “being a teenager,” consider how long the symptoms have been present, how severe they are, and how different the teen is acting from his or her usual self. While some “growing pains” are to be expected as teenagers grapple with the challenges of growing up, dramatic, long-lasting changes in personality, mood, or behavior are red flags of a deeper problem (www.helpguide.org/mental/depression_teen.htm, 2009).

Stress: A Follow-Up ...

The last post that I made discussed tips for stress management, as this time of year can be stressful for returning students and parents alike.  This article, entitled 'Dealing With Back to School Blues' highlights a few pointers to help alleviate the stress that commonly occurs during this time of year.