Date of Award

Spring 2002

Project Type

Dissertation

Program or Major

Psychology

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

First Advisor

Victoria L Banyard

Abstract

The project implemented and evaluated a prevention program for eating concerns with first year college women. Two prevention conditions were examined. One condition provided information about eating concerns, from definitions to biopsychosocial risks and consequences. The second condition built self-efficacy and skills in the participants along with presenting information. The evaluation component was unique compared to other evaluations in the eating concerns prevention literature. It used pre and post intervention assessments, a control group, and had a larger sample of participants compared to other similar published programs. Both quantitative and qualitative assessment techniques were used to evaluate participants' experience in the program and their outcomes. It appeared that using self-efficacy as a means for prevention of eating concerns was effective, though results were mixed. Methodological and sampling issues limited the internal and external validity of the results from the evaluation of the new prevention program. Future research should address these limitations, as well as extend the program to samples beyond the college population, modify the components and structure of the program, and explore how self-efficacy may fit into a larger theoretical framework to explain and prevent eating concerns at both ends of the weight continuum.

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