Depression and Body Image Essay -- Psychology Health Essays

Depression and eubstance ImageAmerican society places a tremendous emphasis on somatogenetic coming into court. 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 ones physical appearance is viewed as a core character of eating disorders. A negative organic structure image is also a common feature associated with depression. There appears to be a link, although unclear, between depression and a lamentable body image.Adolescence is a tumultuous period in ones 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 observation of body structure and function, early and continuing body related experience, life long social response to body appearance, and sociocultural values and ideals regard ing the body (Reirdan, 1997). Adolescence A Period of Dramatic ChangeA 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, piece of tail and hips were too large. Even normal to thin girls were highly likely to proneness smaller thighs, buttocks or hips. It is interesting to note that younger girls, older 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. diary of theAmerican College of Nutrition, 12, 505-510.Morey, D., Morey, L. (1991). The conquerable Body Image of Females with Feelings of Depression. Journal of Resear ch in Personality, 25, 343-354. Noles, S., Cash, T., Winstead, B. (1985). Body Image, material 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 inAdolescents. Journal of Early Adolescence, 8, 109-117.Rierdan, J., Koff, E., Stubbs, M. (1987). A Longitudinal Analysis of Body Image as a forecaster of the Onset and Persistence of Adolescent Girls Depression. Journal of Early Adolescence, 7, 205-216.