Date of Award

1997

Publication Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.

Department

Psychology

Keywords

Psychology, Clinical.

Supervisor

Thomas, Cheryl,

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Abstract

The nature of the relation between nutritional knowledge and disordered eating attitudes and behaviour has yet to be adequately explored empirically. The objectives of the present study were to examine: (1) the factor structure and psychometric properties of a newly designed measure, the Knowledge About Food and Weight Regulation Practices Questionnaire (KFWQ; Walsh, 1997), and (2) the relation between nutritional knowledge and disordered eating attitudes and behaviour. It was expected that the results would support a multidimensional conceptualization of nutritional knowledge such that knowledge about healthy weight regulation (e.g., risks of extreme dieting practices). It was also anticipated that higher levels of disordered eating attitudes and behaviour would be associated with greater knowledge about how to lose weight, but lower levels of knowledge about healthy weight regulation. 192 college women completed the following measures: the KFWQ (Walsh, 1997); the Multidimensional Body Self-Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ; Cash, 1990); the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26; Garner et al., 1982); and the Eating Symptoms Inventory (ESI; Whitaker et al., 1989). The first hypothesis was supported by findings suggesting that KFWQ items clustered on four factors labelled "Dieting/Food Myths", "Fat/Calories", "Healthy Dieting", and "Healthy Eating". The second hypothesis was only partially supported, however. There was a significant relationship between self-reported disordered eating attitudes and behaviour and knowledge about how to lose weight, but the relationship between disordered eating attitudes and behaviour and knowledge about healthy weight regulation was not significant. Findings are discussed in terms of their implications for psychoeducationally oriented eating disorder treatment programs.Dept. of Psychology. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1997 .W35. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 37-01, page: 0370. Adviser: Cheryl Thomas. Thesis (M.A.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1997.

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