Depression and Body Image Essay -- Psychology Health Essays

Depression and Body Image American society places a tremendous emphasis on physical appearance. Many adolescent girls go to great lengths to achieve these unrealistic standards of thinness. Eating disorders have become a prevalent disease in Western society. Dissatisfaction with one’s physical appearance is viewed as a core feature of eating disorders. A negative body image is also a common feature associated with depression. There appears to be a link, although unclear, between depression and a poor body image. Adolescence is a tumultuous period in one’s life. Bodies of adolescents are dramatically changing, and these physical changes are associated with changes in body image. Body image pertains to how individuals view and assign meaning to their own bodies. It is a reflection of body structure and function, early and continuing body related experience, life long social response to body appearance, and sociocultural values and ideals regarding the body (Reirdan, 1997). Adolescence: A Period of Dramatic Change A normative developmental task for both girls and boys is to assimilate pubertal change into a positively valued body image. This task is more difficult for girls than for boys; girls are more concerned about attractiveness than boys, and they are less satisfied with their appearance (Rierdan, 1989). In a list of body areas, girls were more concerned that their thighs, buttocks and hips were too large. Even normal to thin girls were highly likely to desire smaller thighs, buttocks or hips. It is interesting to note that younger girls, aged 10-12 years, were less likely to select areas of sexual attractiveness, but tended to be dissatisfied with areas such as teeth, face, and feet (Moore, 1993). It is clear th... ...ior in Adolescents. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 12, 505-510. Morey, D., Morey, L. (1991). The Vulnerable Body Image of Females with Feelings of Depression. Journal of Research in Personality, 25, 343-354. Noles, S., Cash, T., Winstead, B. (1985). Body Image, Physical Attractiveness, and Depression. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 53, 88-94. Rierdan, J., Koff, E., Stubbs, M. (1987). Depressive Symptomolgy and Body Image in Adolescent Girls. Journal of Early Adolescence, 7, 205-216. Rierdan, J., Koff, E., Stubbs, M. (1988). Gender, Depression, and Body Image in Adolescents. Journal of Early Adolescence, 8, 109-117. Rierdan, J., Koff, E., Stubbs, M. (1987). A Longitudinal Analysis of Body Image as a Predictor of the Onset and Persistence of Adolescent Girls’ Depression. Journal of Early Adolescence, 7, 205-216.