Prevention of body concerns and risk behaviours in adolescent boys

Overall, this thesis was designed to explore the nature of adolescent boys' body image, the effects of body image on body change strategies and psychological adjustment, and the factors that influence body image. The first study examined body image in 362 adolescent boys. Body image was considered in terms of attitudes to different body parts and attributes, including, lower, middle and upper body, as well as weight, shape and muscles. The relationships between Body Mass Index (BMI), body image, sociocultural messages, psychological adjustment and body change strategies, including strategies to decrease weight and increase muscles using food and exercise, drive for thinness, bulimic attitudes and behaviour, excessive exercise, food supplements to lose weight, increase muscles and steroids, were also investigated. Multiple regression analyses were used to examine the role of body image, sociocultural messages and psychological adjustment to predict satisfaction with different body attributes and body change strategies. The findings from study one led to the development of a program aimed at preventing the development of unhealthy attitudes and behaviours among adolescent boys. Study two involved the implementation and evaluation of this prevention program. One hundred and twenty one boys participated in the program. The program was based on social-cognitive theory, and included a focus on accepting differences and the development of self-esteem. The boys who participated in the program indicated some change in existing attitudes and showed less development of risk behaviours relative to the control group. The implications of the findings from this thesis in relation to future research, as well as the prevention of adolescent boys' body image problems are discussed.

Profiling the sport consumption attitudes and behaviours of fantasy football players

Most sporting codes encourage participation in Fantasy Sport (FS), despite few making direct revenue from it. There is a lack of empirical evidence whether this is good practice, for although FS can increase involvement and education, it may also compete with other forms of sport consumption for consumers limited resources. This study begins to address whether FS competes with or  complements sport consumption by comparing FS players with nonplayers. Data was collected from surveys (n=182) of AFL fans, with findings indicating FS players had higher tested measures of attitudes (e.g., team identification, commitment) and behaviours (e.g., game attendance, television viewing) related  to the sport. What remains to be determined is causality, and suggestions on how to examine this are given.

Physical activity beliefs and behaviours among adults attempting weight control

Objective: To compare the frequency and duration of varying intensities of physical activity performed by adults trying to lose weight, avoid gaining weight and not actively trying to control their weight, and to compare these groups' beliefs about the physical activity they should perform.

Method: Random postal survey of 2500 Victorian adults selected from the Australian electoral roll (response rate=42%).

Measures: One-week physical activity recall (frequency and duration of walking, other moderate activity and vigorous activity), BMI (based on self-reported height and weight) and weight-control behaviour.

Results: At the time of the survey, 27% of respondents were actively trying to avoid gaining weight, 23.9% trying to lose weight and 49.1% undertaking no weight control. Respondents spent a mean time of 4.0 (±7.1) h walking, 5.5 (±7.9) h in moderate activity and 3.1(±5.9) h in vigorous activity during the week prior to the survey. Women trying to lose weight or avoid gaining weight engaged in vigorous activity more often than women not trying to control their weight. After adjusting for age, education and BMI, women trying to avoid gaining weight were 2.4 times more likely, and women trying to lose weight 2.5 times more likely, to have met current physical activity guidelines than women undertaking no weight control. On average, respondents believed they should spend 5.2 (±6.9) h walking, 6.5 (±8.2) h in moderate activity and 4.3 (±6.5) h in vigorous activity each week. Women trying to lose weight felt they should perform vigorous activity more often than other women. Weight-control behaviour was not associated with physical activity beliefs and behaviours of men.

Conclusion: Walking is a common activity among adults attempting weight control. However, many men and women do not fully recognize the value of moderate-intensity physical activity. Future efforts should be directed at promoting the role of moderate-intensity activity in weight control, particularly activity that can be performed outside of planned activity sessions.

Socioeconomic influences on women's eating behaviours

This thesis investigated the socioeconomic influences on women's eating behaviours. Results showed that women of low socioeconomic position not only perceived higher direct financial costs as a predominant barrier for consuming a healthy diet, but also a number of indirect or non-financial cost factors such as the perceived additional time costs involved in preparing and cooking healthy foods.

Smoking and drinking behaviours : the role of Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory

This thesis examines the predictions of Jeffrey Gray's Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory in the development of smoking and hazardous drinking behaviours in young women. Impulsivity was found to significantly predict alcohol use and young women who smoked and drank at hazardous levels were significantly more impulsive than hazardous drinkers.

Parental influences upon their children's body image concerns and behaviours

An examination of the influence of parents revealed that sons' and daughters' perceptions of the direct and indirect pressures exerted by both mothers and fathers were more predictive of their body image concerns and body change strategies than the messages reported by parents. The professional portfolio presents four case studies of children referred to a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service with depressive symptomatology in relation to attachment theory.

Health beliefs and behaviours of home economics teachers in Victoria

Data from questionnaires mailed to post-primary home economics teachers suggests that they possess untapped knowledge and expertise that could be used in intersectoral approaches to health promotion outside classroom teaching.

Comparative study of preferred coaching behaviours in Australian football, netball and basketball

Investigated the preferred coaching behaviours of 317 athletes from three distinct Australian sporting contexts (single-gender male, single-gender female, dual gender) and discussed the significance of the findings in relation to the Multidimensional Model of Leadership. The athletes preferred positive feedback, training and instruction and democratic behaviour.

Leisure-time physical activity, inactivity and sedentary behaviours

Assesses the relationship between leisure-time physical activity and sedentary behaviours in two cross-sectional studies of adults. Behavioural choice theory was applied to gain a better understanding of people's time allocation in these behaviours. The findings show that preference, reinforcement, and barriers are potentially important factors to consider in the study of the increasing population prevalence of sedentary lifestyles.

Disordered eating and drinking behaviours : the role of sensitivity to reward and punishment

Examines whether the personality traits of sensitivity to reward and punishment as defined by Jeffrey Gray contributed to the prediction of disordered eating and hazardous alcohol use. Studies were conducted in both subclinical and clinical populations. Heightened sensitivity to reward contributed to the prediction of hazardous alcohol use and heightened sensitivity to punishment contributed to the prediction of disordered eating in women. Women with comorbid bulimia and alcohol dependence were more behaviourally sensitive to reward than normal controls.

Can social cognitive theory constructs explain socio-economic variations in adolescent eating behaviours? A mediation analysis

Adolescents of low socio-economic position (SEP) are less likely than those of higher SEP to consume diets in line with current dietary recommendations. The reasons for these SEP variations remain poorly understood. We investigated the mechanisms underlying socio-economic variations in adolescents’ eating behaviours using a theoretically derived explanatory model. Data were obtained from a community-based sample of 2529 adolescents aged 12–15 years, from 37 secondary schools in Victoria, Australia. Adolescents completed a web-based survey assessing their eating behaviours, self-efficacy for healthy eating, perceived importance of nutrition and health, social modelling and support and the availability of foods in the home. Parents provided details of maternal education level, which was used as an indicator of SEP. All social cognitive constructs assessed mediated socio-economic variations in at least one indicator of adolescents’ diet. Cognitive factors were the strongest mediator of socio-economic variations in fruit intakes, while for energy-dense snack foods and fast foods, availability of energy-dense snacks at home tended to be strong mediators. Social cognitive theory provides a useful framework for understanding socio-economic variations in adolescent's diet and might guide public health programmes and policies focusing on improving adolescent nutrition among those experiencing socio-economic disadvantage.

Effects of parental perception of neighbourhood deprivation and family environment characteristics on pro-social behaviours among 4-12 year old children

Objective : To assess the effect family environment stressors (e.g. poor family functioning and parental psychological distress) and neighbourhood environment on child prosocial behaviour (CPB) and child difficulty behaviour (CDB) among 4-to-12 year old children.

Methods : Analysis of the 2006 Victorian Child Health and Wellbeing Survey (VCHWS) dataset derived from a statewide cross-sectional telephone survey, with a final total sample of 3,370 children.

Results : Only family functioning, parental psychological distress, child gender, and age were associated with CPB, explaining a total of 8% of the variance. Children from healthily functioning families and of parents without any psychological distress exhibited greater prosocial behaviours than those from poorly functioning families and of parents with mental health problems. Neighbourhood environment was not found to contribute to CPB. A total of eight variables were found to predict CDB, explaining a total of 16% of the variance. Poor family and parental psychological functioning as well as poor access to public facilities in the neighbourhood were associated with conduct problems in children.

Conclusion : Our results point to the importance of the family environment in providing a context that fosters the development of empathic, caring and responsible children; and in buffering children in exhibiting behaviour difficulties during the formative years of life. Programs aimed at promoting prosocial behaviours in children need to target stressors on the family environment.