Trends in body image of adolescent females in metropolitan and non-metropolitan regions: a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Body dissatisfaction is associated with a range of adverse outcomes, including impaired psychological health, low physical activity and disordered eating. This longitudinal study used the Factors Influencing Transitions in Girls' Active Leisure and Sport (FITGALS) dataset to examine trends in body image of adolescent females. Specifically, the study examined satisfaction with body size, physical appearance and dieting behaviour for two cohorts at transitional life phases in two geographic regions longitudinally over a 3-year period. METHODS: A sample of 732 adolescent females in Grade 7 (n = 489, 66.8 %) and Grade 11 (n = 243, 33.2 %) at randomly selected Australian metropolitan and non-metropolitan secondary schools responded to a questionnaire in three successive years from 2008 to 2010. Participants reported perceptions about their body size and physical appearance and whether they were, or ought to be, on a diet. The data were analysed using a series of longitudinal logistic regression models. RESULTS: Dieting and dissatisfaction with body size significantly increased over time and more so for older than younger girls. Region significantly moderated the effect of grade level regarding dissatisfaction with body size but not dieting. In non-metropolitan regions, those in the younger cohort were significantly more likely to be dissatisfied with their body size than the older cohort; whereas in metropolitan regions, those in the older cohort were significantly more likely to be dissatisfied with their body size than the younger cohort. Adolescent female's perceptions of their appearance were unchanged over time, region and grade level. CONCLUSIONS: Differences across time, region and grade level were found among adolescent females on body size and dieting behaviour, but not physical appearance. Adolescent females experience early and increasing body size dissatisfaction and dieting as they age, but stable perceptions of physical appearance. Age and geographic region are important considerations for the timing and targeting of interventions to address body image concerns. Further investigation of regional differences in body image perceptions and factors that affect these is warranted. The findings of this study highlight the ongoing need for strategies during adolescence to promote a healthy appreciation of body size and appearance.

Testing the reliability and validity of the Index of Attitudes Toward Homosexuals (IAH) in Australia.

Previous researchers have used a modified version of the Index of Attitudes toward Homosexuals (IAH; Hudson & Ricketts, 1980) and have reported their own reliability coefficients but relied on the authors' original validity data (Serdahely & Ziemba, 1984; Whitley, 1987; Ernulf, Innala, & Whitam, 1989; Rudolph, 1989, 1990). In order to determine if the IAH was a reliable and valid instrument in Australia, the psychometrics of this test were examined using a student population of comparable size to Hudson and Ricketts's sample. It was expected that the 150 students (92 males and 58 females) would respond in much the same way as their US counterparts. This research found the IAH to be reliable (r = .94) and valid for Australian populations and is a recommended instrument for measuring attitudes toward homosexual people.

Tobacco and alcohol use among Australian secondary schoolchildren in 1987.

A survey of 19 166 secondary schoolchildren aged 12-17 years in five Australian states, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory was undertaken in 1987 to determine the prevalence of tobacco and alcohol use. Current smoking (that is, smoking at least one cigarette in the last week) rose with age to 27% in boys who were aged 16 years and to 30% in girls who were aged 16 years. The prevalence of current drinking (that is, consuming one alcoholic drink in the last week) rose with age to 55% in boys who were aged 16 years and to 50% in girls who were aged 17 years. Compared with an identical survey in 1984, the prevalence of smoking among 12- to 17-year-old schoolchildren had fallen significantly. The prevalence of drinking alcohol among 12- to 15-year-old schoolchildren also had fallen significantly, but not to the same extent as that of smoking; no significant reduction was found in the drinking of alcohol among 16- to 17-year-old schoolchildren. These trends are encouraging, but a need remains for all states to enact tobacco-control legislation, including the prohibition of tobacco advertising.