Eating Disorders “Mental Health Literacy” in Low Risk, High Risk and Symptomatic Women: Implications for Health Promotion Programs

Abstract

Attitudes and beliefs concerning the nature and treatment of bulimia nervosa (BN) were compared among young adult women at low risk of an eating disorder (n = 332), at high risk (n = 83), or already showing symptoms (n = 94). Participants completed a self-report questionnaire that included a measure of eating disorder symptoms. A vignette of a fictional person suffering from BN was presented, followed by a series of questions addressing the nature and treatment of the problem described. High-risk and symptomatic participants were more likely than low-risk participants to report that they would not approach anyone for advice or help, were they to have BN or a similar problem, because they would not want anyone to know. Symptomatic participants were more likely to believe that someone with BN would be discriminated against, more likely to consider bulimic behaviors to be acceptable, and more likely to view BN as being common among women in the community, than low-risk participants, participants in the high-risk group being intermediate on each of these questions. The findings suggest that the attitudes and beliefs of individuals with eating disorder symptoms differ systematically from those of individuals at high risk, but who do not yet have symptoms, and from those at low risk. They also indicate specific attitudes and beliefs that may need to be addressed in prevention and early intervention programs. The potential benefits of assessing individuals' attitudes and beliefs concerning the nature and treatment of eating-disordered behaviour and tailoring program content accordingly may be worthy of investigation.

The presence, predictive utility, and clinical significance of body dysmorphic symptoms in women with eating disorders

“…The second cohort was a convenience sample derived from a parallel longitudinal survey of women with disordered eating recruited through advertisements in four universities and colleges of higher education in the Australian states of Queensland and Victoria [28]. Recruitment was via central university email, posters on student bulletins and in residence halls, and direct approach in the university common areas.…”

Eating disorders “mental health literacy”: an introduction

“…In addition, ED-MHL has been found to vary as a function of individuals' demographic characteristics and symptom levels. Thus, young men may consider eating disorders to be less serious than do young women (Mond & Arrighi, 2011) and individuals with eating disorder symptoms may be particularly likely to believe that eating-disordered behavior is acceptable or even desirable (Mond et al, 2010a).…”

“…Nevertheless, perusal of the recent literature suggests a small number of key ''problem areas'' (Mond et al, 2006b(Mond et al, , 2008(Mond et al, , 2010a. First, it is apparent that awareness and understanding of the spectrum of disordered eating that occurs at the population level is poor (Mond et al, 2006b).…”

“…However, this argument misses the point (Cowen, 1998;Mond et al, 2013b). The focus of efforts to improve ED-MHL is on reducing the individual and community health burden of eating-disordered behavior by reducing stigma and otherwise changing public knowledge and beliefs in ways that promote the importance of early, appropriate helpseeking where this is needed (Cowen, 1998;Mond et al, 2010aMond et al, , 2013b. Improving ED-MHL may also serve to prevent the occurrence of eating-disordered behavior among individuals at risk or potentially at risk.…”

“…Third, much of the existing ED-MHL research has been confined to the ''high-risk'' populations of adolescent and young adult women. Moreover, research addressing the ED-MHL of men is important because their knowledge, beliefs and behaviors influence the knowledge, beliefs and behaviors of the individuals with whom they interact, including adolescent and young adult women (Mond et al, 2010a(Mond et al, , 2013b.…”