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Stolovy T. Befriending the body through clothes: the role of clothing in secular and religious women's body appreciation. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1297663. [PMID: 38873515 PMCID: PMC11172143 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1297663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Women invest in their appearance through clothes, and the way they view their bodies translates into how they choose to dress. Nonetheless, body image research often overlooks the role of clothing in fostering body appreciation. This study examined the impact of a psychoeducational feministic course on the sociology and psychology of attire, on students' clothing functions and body appreciation. Methods The participants were 114 female MA students (47 secular, 67 religious) between the ages of 24 and 64 who completed the Body Appreciation Scale and Function of Clothing scale at the beginning and end of the course. Results The results support the contribution of the course to changes in participants' clothing functions and improvement in their body appreciation F(1,96) = 32.33, p < 0.001, partial Eta squared = 0.25. Surprisingly, religiousness had no impact on the results. Discussion This research contributes to the field of positive body image by presenting the potential role of clothing in fostering body appreciation among women. It demonstrates the benefits of investing in clothing that are less driven by external standards and more by the expression of valued aspects of the self.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tali Stolovy
- Ono Academic College, Academic College of Society and the Arts (ASA), Netanya, Israel
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2
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Mitra B, Archer D, Hurst J, Lycett D. The Role of Religion, Spirituality and Social Media in the Journey of Eating Disorders: A Qualitative Exploration of Participants in the "TastelifeUK" Eating Disorder Recovery Programme. JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND HEALTH 2023; 62:4451-4477. [PMID: 37423909 PMCID: PMC10682250 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-023-01861-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
This study explores the religious and spiritual aspects of eating disorder recovery and the role of social media in the context of a third sector community-based recovery group in the UK. Four online focus groups explored participant perspectives (17 participants in total) using thematic analysis. The qualitative findings highlight that relational support from God is important in eating disorder recovery and coping, although this can be challenged by spiritual struggles and tensions. Relational support from people is also relevant where it offers a place to share different experiences together giving a sense of community belonging. Social media was also found to be important in relation to eating disorders, either providing a community of support or exacerbating existing issues. This study suggests that the role of religion and social media should be acknowledged where it is important for that individual in relation to eating disorder recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Mitra
- Joint Head of English, Media and Culture, University of Worcester, City Campus, Worcester, WR1 3AS, UK.
| | | | - Joanne Hurst
- School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health, Coventry University, Priory Street, Coventry, CV1 5FB, UK
| | - Deborah Lycett
- Institute Director for Health & Wellbeing, Centre for Healthcare and Communities, Coventry University, Coventry, CV1 5FB, UK
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3
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Negi S, Benau EM, Strowger M, Grammer AC, Timko CA. Internalization of Appearance Ideals and Not Religiosity Indirectly Impacts the Relationship Between Acculturation and Disordered Eating Risk in South and Southeast Asian Women Living in the United States. Front Psychol 2022; 13:843717. [PMID: 35923740 PMCID: PMC9341433 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.843717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Studies that examine disordered eating in samples of Asian individuals living in the United States frequently combine all individuals of Asian descent into a single group, which can obscure important differences between groups and their experiences of acculturation. The goal of the present study was to establish the relation of acculturation, internalization of appearance ideals, and religiosity as predicting body dissatisfaction and disordered eating in women of South and Southeast Asian (SSEA) descent. Method Women of SSEA descent (N = 112) aged 18-51 years (M = 23.10, SD = 6.4) completed a battery of questionnaires that inquire about these variables. A path analysis was conducted with acculturation serving as the independent (exogenous) variable, religiosity and internalization of the thin ideal as mediators, and body dissatisfaction and disordered eating as dependent (endogenous) variables. Results Direct paths from acculturation to both body dissatisfaction and disordered eating were not significant. Thin ideal internalization completely accounted for the path from acculturation to both endogenous variables; whereas, religiosity did not significantly account for any indirect effect. Discussion For SSEA women, internalization of appearance ideals is a potentially greater risk factor for disordered eating than acculturation or religiosity. As this was an atemporal mediation analysis, more work needs to be done exploring predictors of internalization in this population and how that may impact the development of disordered eating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonakshi Negi
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Psychology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
| | - Erik M. Benau
- Department of Psychology, SUNY Old Westbury, Old Westbury, NY, United States
| | - Megan Strowger
- Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Psychology, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, United States
| | - Anne Claire Grammer
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - C. Alix Timko
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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Segev R, Strauss E. Forming an Affiliation Between Two Culturally Different Academic Institutions of Nursing Studies. SAGE Open Nurs 2021; 6:2377960820982146. [PMID: 33912667 PMCID: PMC8047836 DOI: 10.1177/2377960820982146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction This article describes the association of two culturally different institutions opening a joint Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program for ultra-Orthodox Jewish (Haredi) women in order to enable them to find jobs due to changes in their society and increasing global demand for nurses in the labor market. The objective of this description is to illustrate the efforts and changes needed to facilitate the affiliation of two culturally and ideologically different organizations and the implications and conclusions of such a program. Methods The study is based on interviews with past administrators, a review of the literature, and supporting institution documents. Conclusions A joint nursing academic program was founded by two culturally different educational institutions for the ultra-Orthodox Jewish women population. Creating a culturally sensitive nursing academic program helped ultra-Orthodox women acquire an academic profession which enabled their integration into the academic professional's work world and add more nurses to the labor market.The authors reviewed the efforts and changes needed to facilitate the affiliation of two culturally and ideologically different organizations based on the Bolman and Deal four frames model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronen Segev
- Department of Nursing Sciences, Ruppin Academic Center, Emek-Hefer, Israel
| | - Ester Strauss
- The Tessler Academic School of Nursing, Sanz Medical Center, Netania, Israel
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Latzer Y, Herman E, Ashkenazi R, Atias O, Laufer S, Biran Ovadia A, Oppenheim T, Shimoni M, Uziel M, Stein D. Virtual Online Home-Based Treatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic for Ultra-Orthodox Young Women With Eating Disorders. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:654589. [PMID: 34108896 PMCID: PMC8180585 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.654589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need arose to maintain treatment continuity for religious Jewish Ultra-Orthodox young women with eating disorders (EDs) previously hospitalized in the ED department at the Ultra-Orthodox "Mayanei Hayeshua" medical center in Israel. This need led to the development of home-based online treatment channels, previously unfamiliar, and unaccepted in this population. The implementation of this model had to take into consideration many of the difficulties inherent in the use of online treatment in Jewish Ultra-Orthodox mental health patients. Aims: We sought to investigate our online home-based treatment model implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic in previously hospitalized young Ultra-Orthodox women with EDs. Method: We briefly review the literature on: (1) The Jewish Israeli Ultra-Orthodox culture; (2) Young women in Ultra-Orthodox society; and (3) EDs in Jewish Israeli Ultra-Orthodox women. We then present the inpatient ED department for Ultra-Orthodox young women and describe the online treatment model adapted to this population during the COVID-19 pandemic. We highlight the difficulties, dilemmas, and advantages of our online model with the description of three patients. Findings: Online therapy can serve as a barrier to treatment in some cases, due to physical (lack of suitable online devices except phones), familial (over-crowded families), and religious circumstances, as well as because of the patients' reluctance to take part in this treatment. In other cases, virtual home-based treatment can lead to a positive change. This may be the case in patients who find the distancing online model suitable for them, and in parents who are committed to treatment, using their greater physical and emotional presence at home during the COVID-19 pandemic for the good if their ill-daughters. Discussion: This paper highlights the difficulties and possibilities inherent in a virtual home-based treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic for Ultra-Orthodox young women previously hospitalized because of an ED. This model can be effective for some patients and families if undertaken by a multidisciplinary team that is not only knowledgeable about the treatment of EDs and the use of online strategies but also knowledgeable and culturally sensitive to the specific needs and codes of Ultra-Orthodox populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yael Latzer
- Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.,Psychiatric Division, Eating Disorders Institution, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
| | - Esther Herman
- Eating Disorders Department, Maayanei Hayeshuah Medical Center, Bnei Brak, Israel
| | - Rahel Ashkenazi
- Eating Disorders Department, Maayanei Hayeshuah Medical Center, Bnei Brak, Israel
| | - Orna Atias
- Eating Disorders Department, Maayanei Hayeshuah Medical Center, Bnei Brak, Israel
| | - Sofia Laufer
- Eating Disorders Department, Maayanei Hayeshuah Medical Center, Bnei Brak, Israel
| | - Ateret Biran Ovadia
- Eating Disorders Department, Maayanei Hayeshuah Medical Center, Bnei Brak, Israel
| | - Tova Oppenheim
- Eating Disorders Department, Maayanei Hayeshuah Medical Center, Bnei Brak, Israel
| | - Meirv Shimoni
- Eating Disorders Department, Maayanei Hayeshuah Medical Center, Bnei Brak, Israel
| | - Moria Uziel
- Eating Disorders Department, Maayanei Hayeshuah Medical Center, Bnei Brak, Israel
| | - Daniel Stein
- Eating Disorders Department, Maayanei Hayeshuah Medical Center, Bnei Brak, Israel.,Department of Psychiatry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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Geller S, Handelzalts JE, Levy S, Boxer N, Todd J, Swami V. An examination of the factor structure and preliminary assessment of the psychometric properties of a Hebrew translation of the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2). Body Image 2020; 34:145-154. [PMID: 32674037 DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2020.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2) is a widely-used, 10-item measure of a core facet of positive body image. To extend its use internationally, we examined the factor structure and conducted a preliminary assessment of the psychometric properties of a novel Hebrew translation of the BAS-2. A sample of 613 Israeli adults (362 women, 251 men; age M = 29.52, SD = 9.47) completed the BAS-2 alongside demographic items and previously-validated measures of life satisfaction, self-esteem, self-compassion, and body investment. Exploratory factor analyses with a semi-random split-half subsample (n = 377) indicated that BAS-2 scores reduced to a single dimension with all 10 items. This factor structure was equivalent across women and men. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with a second split-half subsample (n = 235) showed the 1-dimensional factor structure had adequate fit following one modification and multi-group CFA showed that the model was invariant across sex. Men had significantly higher BAS-2 scores than women, but the effect size was small (d = 0.22). Evidence of construct validity was demonstrated through positive associations with indices of life satisfaction, self-esteem, self-compassion, and body investment. The availability of a validated BAS-2 Hebrew translation should advance future research of body appreciation in Israel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shulamit Geller
- School of Behavioral Sciences, The Academic College of Tel Aviv-Yaffo, Israel.
| | - Jonathan E Handelzalts
- School of Behavioral Sciences, The Academic College of Tel Aviv-Yaffo, Israel; Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Sigal Levy
- Statistics Education Unit, The Academic College of Tel Aviv-Yaffo, Israel
| | - Nofar Boxer
- School of Behavioral Sciences, The Academic College of Tel Aviv-Yaffo, Israel
| | - Jennifer Todd
- Division of Psychology, School of Psychology and Sport Science, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK
| | - Viren Swami
- Division of Psychology, School of Psychology and Sport Science, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK; Centre for Psychological Medicine, Perdana University, Serdang, Malaysia
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7
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Sidi Y, Geller S, Abu Sinni A, Levy S, Handelzalts JE. Body image among Muslim women in Israel: exploring religion and sociocultural pressures. Women Health 2020; 60:1095-1108. [PMID: 32752948 DOI: 10.1080/03630242.2020.1802399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The study aimed to investigate the association of the Muslim religion, as a multidimensional factor, with social pressures related to body image concerns, among Muslim women in Israel. Four hundred and Seventy-five Israeli Muslim women ages between 18 and 30 years completed questionnaire measures of strength of religious faith, wearing a traditional head cover (the Hijab), positive and negative body image, media exposure, societal pressures to conform to Western body ideals and its internalization, from 2016 to 2018. Strength of religious faith and wearing the Hijab were positively associated with positive aspects of body image, while only strength of religious faith negatively correlated with body dissatisfaction. Further, mediation analyses revealed that the relationship between the strength of religious faith and both positive body image and body dissatisfaction was mediated by media pressures. Notably, reduced peer pressures had more influence on positive body image, while reduced family pressures were more influential for negative body image. These results are discussed with regard to promoting a more intricate and multicultural understanding of body image concepts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yael Sidi
- Department of Education and Psychology, The Open University of Israel , Ra'anana, Israel
| | - Shulamit Geller
- School of Behavioral Sciences, The Academic College of Tel-Aviv Yaffo , Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Aline Abu Sinni
- School of Behavioral Sciences, The Academic College of Tel-Aviv Yaffo , Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Sigal Levy
- School of Behavioral Sciences, The Academic College of Tel-Aviv Yaffo , Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Jonathan E Handelzalts
- School of Behavioral Sciences, The Academic College of Tel-Aviv Yaffo , Tel-Aviv, Israel.,Psychiatry Department, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Bachner-Melman R, Zohar AH. Potential Risk and Protective Factors for Eating Disorders in Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Jewish Women. JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND HEALTH 2019; 58:2161-2174. [PMID: 31175539 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-019-00854-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Little is known scientifically about eating disorders (EDs) in the Haredi (Jewish ultra-Orthodox) community. This paper aims to describe Haredi culture, review available peer-reviewed research on EDs in the Haredi community and discuss possible risk and protective factors for these disorders in a culturally informed way. A literature search for 2009-2019 yielded 180 references of which only nine were studies on ED in the Haredi community. We describe these and use them as a basis for discussion of possible risk and protective factors for ED in Haredi women. Risk factors may include the centrality of food, poverty, rigid dress codes, the importance of thinness for dating and marriage, high demands from women, selflessness and early marriage and high expectations from women. Protective factors may include faith, Jewish laws governing eating and food that encourage gratitude and mindful eating, and body covering as part of modesty laws that discourage objectification. Ways of overcoming the current barriers to research in the Haredi community should be sought to advance ED prevention and treatment in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Bachner-Melman
- Clinical Psychology Graduate Program, Ruppin Academic Center, Emek Hefer, Israel.
- Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 12 Hagedud Haivri Street, 9234506, Jerusalem, Israel.
| | - Ada H Zohar
- Clinical Psychology Graduate Program, Ruppin Academic Center, Emek Hefer, Israel
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