Mental Health Literacy and Eating-Disordered Behavior: Beliefs of Adolescent Girls Concerning the Treatment of and Treatment-Seeking for Bulimia Nervosa

Autor/inn/en	Mond, J. M.; Marks, P.; Hay, P. J.; Rodgers, B.; Kelly, C.; Owen, C.; Paxton, S. J.
Titel	Mental Health Literacy and Eating-Disordered Behavior: Beliefs of Adolescent Girls Concerning the Treatment of and Treatment-Seeking for Bulimia Nervosa
Quelle	In: Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 36 (2007) 6, S.753-762 (10 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0047-2891
DOI	10.1007/s10964-006-9087-9
Schlagwörter	Foreign Countries; Social Environment; Prevention; Females; Mental Health; Eating Disorders; Literacy; Adolescents; Mental Disorders; Physicians; Mothers; Peer Relationship; Parent Role; Help Seeking; Counseling Techniques; Symptoms (Individual Disorders); At Risk Persons; Peer Influence; Health Needs; Australia + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Ausland; Soziales Umfeld; Prävention; Vorbeugung; Weibliches Geschlecht; Psychohygiene; Appetite disorder; Essstörung; Alphabetisierung; Schreib- und Lesefähigkeit; Adolescent; Adolescence; Adoleszenz; Jugend; Jugendalter; Jugendlicher; Mental illness; Geisteskrankheit; Physician; Doctor; Arzt; Mother; Mutter; Peer-Beziehungen; Parental role; Elternrolle; Help-seeking behavior; Help-seeking behaviour; Hilfe suchendes Verhalten; Counseling technique; Counselling technique; Counselling techniques; Beratungsmethode; Psychiatrische Symptomatik; Risikogruppe; Australien
Abstract	This research examined the "mental health literacy" of adolescents concerning eating-disordered behavior. A vignette describing a fictional 16-year old female meeting diagnostic criteria for bulimia nervosa was presented to 522 female high school students, followed by a series of questions concerning treatment of and treatment-seeking for the problem described. Results indicated that primary care practitioners, mothers and close female friends were most highly regarded as potential sources of help. Self-help interventions, including the use of vitamins and minerals, were also highly regarded, whereas participants were less positive about the benefits of mental health specialists and ambivalent about the use of anti-depressant medication. Most participants believed that the problem described would be difficult to treat, and that relapse was likely even given appropriate treatment. An additional finding of note was that among participants with a high level of eating disorder symptoms (n = 36, 6.9%), recognition of an eating problem was poor. We conclude that beliefs likely to be conducive to low and/or inappropriate treatment-seeking for eating problems may be common among adolescent girls. In addition, the findings suggest that prevention programs for the eating disorders need to target not only at-risk individuals, but also individuals in their immediate social environment. (Author).
Anmerkungen	Springer. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-348-4505; e-mail: service-ny@springer.com; Web site: http://www.springerlink.com
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10