Weight Preoccupation, Body Image Dissatisfaction, and Self-Efficacy in Female Undergraduates
Stephanie A. Valutis, Anthony J. Goreczny, Leena Abdullah, Emily Magee, Joseph A. Wister

Abstract
Previous research has shown a relationship between body dissatisfaction and weight preoccupation. Body image is complex and multidimensional, and there may be mediating factors present in studies of body dissatisfaction and weight preoccupation. This study assessed the relationships between self-efficacy, body dissatisfaction, and weight preoccupation in young adult college females. Results indicate that self-efficacy with respect to body image, eating behavior, and weight are all predictors of weight preoccupation. These findings suggest that self-efficacy has a place in weight preoccupation and both researchers and clinicians need to take these relationships into account when working toward prevention, assessment, and intervention. Full Article



Right-left orientation and spatial abilities in patients with right and left hemispheric lesions
and controls  Oliver Hirsch, Ruth Gesewsky, Katrin Schlötterer, Roland Ferlings, Bernd Röhrle

Abstract
This study examines whether deficits in right-left orientation (rlo) exist on a larger scale in patients with right or left hemispheric brain injury compared to healthy controls, and also explores the connections between rlo and spatial abilities. A matched groups design was adopted to examine differences in the applied measures. Methods and Procedures A new measure of rlo was applied. Further tests were used covering visual memory, mental rotation, handedness, and visuo-construction. 69 healthy controls and 82 patients suffering from right
(n=51) or left (n=31) hemispheric brain lesions were examined and tested individually during one hour periods. There were no significant differences in the performance of the rlo task. A
significant difference was found in the visuo-constructive task between both patient groups and the controls. Patients with left hemispheric lesions scored lower than the controls in mental rotation. The prevalence of massive deficits in rlo was twice as high in the combined patient groups than in the controls. Theories of lateralization of rlo and spatial abilities were not supported. The groups did show differing patterns of intercorrelations. This gave rise to the idea of different compensatory strategies for solving spatial tasks resulting in comparable outcomes which was not confirmed in further analyses. Full Article

 

Ego State Differences in University Students by Gender, Race, and College Major
Donald A. Loffredo and Rick Harrington

Abstract
The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to investigate transactional analysis ego state differences in gender, race and college major for university students. Three hundred students completed the Ego State Questionnaire-Revised (ESQ-R) voluntarily online. A three-way (gender by race by college major) independent-measures multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) revealed that females scored significantly higher than males on the Nurturing Parent (NP) ego state. Results of the study did not support the hypothesis that there might be racial group differences in ego states. Full Article

 

Relationships among Coping, Weight Preoccupation, and Body Image in College Undergraduates   Stephanie A. Valutis, Anthony J. Goreczny, Joseph A. Wister, Holly Newton, Stephanie Popp and Joanne Vavrek

Abstract
Weight preoccupation is a significant predictor of eating disordered behavior. Previous research has shown that coping style and body mass index relate to weight preoccupation. A significant limitation of previous studies was exclusion of body image, also a predictor of disordered eating. Purpose of this study was to investigate influence of coping style and body image on weight preoccupation in young adult college females. Results indicate body image dissatisfaction is a stronger predictor of weight preoccupation than is coping style. Implications of this study suggest that therapeutic interventions need to focus on self-efficacy and dissonance in addition to coping strategies. Full Article



Helping College Students Cope: Identifying Predictors of Active Coping in Different Stressful Situations  Ming-hui Li

Abstract
College students may encounter stressful situations related to relationships, work, and academia. The tendency to actively cope (active coping) plays a significant role in the process of adapting to stressful situations. This study explored predictors of active coping in three situations. Participants were 219 Taiwanese college students (192 females and 27 males). The most effective predictor of active coping in relationship-related situations and work-related situations were resilience and secure attachment, respectively. No effective predictor of active coping was identified in the academic-related stressful situations. The article ends by offering implications of this study’s findings. Full Article