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Biomedical subjects

M P McCabe

Publications and source records attributed to M P McCabe.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Dietary restraint and negative affect as mediators of body dissatisfaction and bulimic behavior in adolescent girls and boys.

Stice's dual pathway model of dietary restraint and negative affect was examined in both adolescent girls and boys. Self-report measures assessing body dissatisfaction, dietary restraint, negative affect and bulimic behavior were administered to 267 girls and 199 boys aged between 12 and 16 years. The findings for the girls were consistent with Stice's model, in that they indicated that both dietary restraint and negative affect mediated the relationship between body dissatisfaction and bulimic behavior. For the boys who desired a thinner body size, only negative affect was found to mediate the relationship between body dissatisfaction and bulimic behavior. On the other hand, for boys who desired a larger body size, both body dissatisfaction and dietary restraint were found to exert an independent effect on bulimic behavior. As boys can aspire to two contrasting and seemingly opposite body size ideals, the findings highlight that the relationship between body dissatisfaction, dietary restraint, negative affect and bulimic behavior are more complex in males than in females. Further research using longitudinal designs is needed in order to test the directional and bidirectional nature of the observed interrelationships.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Children's body image concerns and eating disturbance: a review of the literature.

In recent years a large number of studies have examined body image concerns, and early symptoms of eating disturbance among children. However, to date there has been no synthesis or evaluation of these studies. The purpose of the present article is to review and evaluate the research that has examined body image concerns, and eating attitudes and behaviors among children 6 to 11 years of age. The instruments used to assess body image concerns and eating disturbance in children closely resemble those used with adolescents and adults. Overall, the psychometric data for these instruments are very good and there is sufficient evidence indicating that they can be used reliably and validly. In addition, similar variables to those studied in adolescent and adult samples have been found to be associated with children's body image concerns and early eating disturbance. These include gender, age, body mass index, race, sociocultural pressures, and self-concept. Our understanding of the development of body image concerns and eating disturbance in children is limited, however, by the fact that most of the research in this field has been based on cross-sectional data, and the studies have focused almost exclusively on weight loss cognitions and behaviors.

Body Image↗
PubMed2001

Extra relationship involvement among women: are they different from men?

Factors related to three types of Extra Relationship Involvement (ERI) in women were explored: emotional ERI, sexual ERI, and a combination of sexual and emotional ERIs. A model, based on a decision-making model of male ERI and the additional variable of commitment, was evaluated. The research involved two studies with female participants (N = 112, N = 44) who had been involved in heterosexual relationships of at least 6-month duration. The major finding was that women engage in emotional and combined ERIs but rarely enter into solely sexual ERIs. It was demonstrated that social norms, planning, relationship satisfaction, and commitment were influential in predicting emotional and combined ERI intentions. Past ERI behavior was a strong predictor of future emotional and combined ERI behavior, but planning also added to the prediction of combined ERI behavior. Women who had engaged in emotional ERIs and combined ERIs indicated romantic affect as the main reason for their ERI behavior. Overall, it was demonstrated that women's intentions to engage in ERI were related to cognitive processes and relationship variables, and that ERI behavior, although generally habitual, was also predicted by cognitive processes.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

An evaluation of self-report measures of cognitive distortions and empathy among Australian sex offenders.

The modification of deviant cognitions and the enhancement of victim empathy are central components in many treatment programs for sex offenders. There appear to be three broad problems with self-report measures of these factors: variations in the psychometric evaluation of measures; the transparency of items and thus the likely influence of social desirability; and the difficulty of determining which measures are specific to particular types of sex offenders. The aim of this study was to investigate these three issues among child molesters (CMs), and men convicted of sex offences against adults (ASOs). Data were collected from 36 CMs and 31 ASOs and from two comparison groups (33 men convicted of nonsexual offences and 40 nonoffenders from the community), to assess the reliability (internal and test-retest) and validity (discriminant, construct, and face) of measures, the influence of sexual social desirability on responding and the specificity of measures to both sex offender groups. Collectively, the results raise issues related to the assessment of sex offenders that require further investigation. They also have theoretical implications about the relationship between cognitive and emotive processes among sex offenders.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Sexual and emotional variables influencing sexual response to erotica: a psychophysiological investigation.

The relative contribution of attentional and emotional factors to the physiological and subjective sexual arousal elicited by erotic film was evaluated. Sexual arousal, attentional, and emotional responses were measured while 30 men were presented with a series of erotic film segments. Levels of physiological and subjective sexual arousal were higher when subjects became absorbed in the activities portrayed in the film and when they experienced the depicted erotic encounters as appetitive, than when they were distracted and perceived the encounters as aversive. The erotic film elicited a diminished startle response to a sudden burst of white noise presented during stimulation relative to the nature film, suggesting that at a physiological level the erotic segments of film were processed as more appetitive in valence. The level of sexual arousal elicited by the erotic segments was related to the extent to which subjects were entertained by the film, even though there was considerable anxiety generated by the portrayed sexual scenarios. Sexual response was not significantly correlated with trait measures of absorption (as indexed by the Tellegen Absorption Scale) nor with vividness of imagery (as assessed by the Betts Questionnaire upon Mental Imagery). Arousal was related to state-assessed attentional and emotional variables, and physiological measures of emotional response, demonstrating the multidimensional nature of the sexual response. Future directions for comparing male sexual response patterns with female response patterns are suggested.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Parent, peer, and media influences on body image and strategies to both increase and decrease body size among adolescent boys and girls.

This study investigated the nature of body image and body change strategies, as well as the sociocultural influences on these variables, among a group of 1,266 adolescents (622 males, 644 females). In particular, it investigated weight gain and increased muscle, as well as weight loss. It was found that females were less satisfied with their bodies and were more likely to adopt strategies to lose weight, whereas males were more likely to adopt strategies to increase weight and muscle tone. Respondents with higher body mass index (BMI) evidenced greater body dissatisfaction and more weight loss strategies, but there were no differences between BMI groups in weight gain or strategies to increase muscles. Weight gain and strategies to increase muscles were more likely to be undertaken by older adolescents, but there were no grade level differences in weight loss. Media influences to alter weight, as well as feedback from mother, father, and both male and female peers, were greater for females. There were few grade level or BMI differences in regard to any of the sociocultural influences. The importance of these findings in terms of providing a better understanding of factors which may lead to a disturbed body image and body change disorders, particularly among adolescent boys, is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Parental divorce during adolescence and adjustment in early adulthood.

The present study examined the impact of parental divorce during adolescence, interparental conflict, and intimacy with parents on young adult adjustment. One hundred sixty-seven undergraduate students (146 females, 21 males) completed a questionnaire regarding their psychosocial adjustment, their present relationships with their parents, the level of interparental conflict experienced during adolescence, and the marital status of their parents during adolescence. High levels of interparental conflict were found to be negatively associated with adjustment and current intimacy with parents. A poor relationship with both parents was negatively associated with several domains of psychosocial adjustment, while high intimacy with at least one parent was positively associated with adjustment. Intimacy with mother and with father were found to be the most important predictors of psychosocial adjustment. This investigation highlights the importance of maintaining a good parent-young adult relationship, particularly in divorced families. The findings indicate that future research should examine multiple family variables when assessing the impact of parental divorce or conflict on young adult adjustment.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2000

Body image and body change methods in adolescent boys. Role of parents, friends and the media.

OBJECTIVE: This study examines sociocultural influences affecting both body image and body change methods in adolescent boys. METHODS: Twenty boys in grade 7 (aged 12-13) and twenty boys in grade 9 (aged 14-15) were individually interviewed. The influence of parents, siblings, friends and the media on both body image and body change methods was evaluated. RESULTS: For approximately a third of the boys, parents, siblings, friends and the media were perceived to have at least some influence over boys' feelings about their bodies and body change methods. In particular, feedback from mothers and female friends were viewed as having a positive impact on boys' body image whereas feed-back from fathers and male friends was viewed as more important in influencing body change methods. The media was also viewed as contributing to boys' body satisfaction but it was seen to encourage greater exercise to alter body size and shape. CONCLUSION: The differences and similarities between the sociocultural messages received by males and females are discussed. The implication of these findings in fostering better health among adolescent males are explored.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Personality characteristics of male clients of female commercial sex workers in Australia.

The personality characteristics of male clients of female sex workers and their motivations for seeking the services of sex workers were examined. It was hypothesized that clients of sex workers would differ from nonclients in that they would adopt less feminine sex roles, exhibit lower social-sexual effectiveness, and show higher levels of sensation-seeking behavior. Sixty-six clients of sex workers and 60 nonclients volunteered to complete a short questionnaire to assess demographic characteristics, sex role, social-sexual effectiveness, and sensation-seeking behavior. Clients and nonclients did not differ on demographic variables such as age, education, marital status, or occupation. However, clients were significantly less feminine in sex-role orientation, scored lower in social-sexual effectiveness, and scored higher on sensation seeking. Closer analysis of the client group revealed the existence of two distinct subgroups. The first was characterized by low social-sexual effectiveness and appeared motivated to visit sex workers because of an interpersonal need for intimacy. The second was characterized by high sensation seeking and appeared motivated to visit sex workers because of a need for novelty and variety in sexual encounters.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Relationships between different types of maltreatment during childhood and adjustment in adulthood.

There are very few research studies that have evaluated the relationships between multiple forms of childhood maltreatment and psychological adjustment in adulthood. This study evaluates the interrelationships between five different types of child maltreatment (sexual abuse, physical abuse, psychological maltreatment, neglect, witnessing family violence) in a community sample of women and men (N = 175). The relationships between the reported experience of these forms of maltreatment in childhood, family characteristics during childhood, and current psychological adjustment (trauma symptomatology and self-depreciation) were assessed. As hypothesized, family characteristics predicted maltreatment scores and adjustment, and maltreatment scores predicted adjustment after controlling for family environment. There were high correlations between scores on the five maltreatment scales. Results highlight the need to assess all forms of maltreatment when looking at relationships of maltreatment to adjustment and the importance of childhood familial environment for the long-term adjustment of adults.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1999

Factorial validity of the Bulimia Test-Revised in adolescent boys and girls.

The present study examined the psychometric properties and principal components structure of the Bulimia Test Revised (BULIT-R; [Thelen, M.H., Farmer, J., Wonderlich, S. & Smith, M. (1991). A revision of the Bulimia Test: the BULIT-R. Psychological Assessment, 3, 119-124.]) using a sample of early adolescent males and females. Three hundred and six girls (mean age = 13.66; S.D. = 1.12) and 297 boys (mean age = 13.89: S.D. = 1.13) from grades 7-10 completed the BULIT-R as part of a larger study investigating disordered eating in early adolescence. In comparison to the 5 factors identified in adult female samples, the factor analysis identified four similar factors for adolescent boys and girls: bingeing, control, normative weight loss (dieting and exercise) and extreme weight loss behaviors (vomiting, diuretics and laxatives). The findings highlight similarities between boys and girls and differences in the factorial nature of the BULIT-R for adult and adolescent samples. The BULIT-R also demonstrated good reliability with adolescent samples and adequate concurrent validity with the DFT, DEBQ and binge eating as defined by the DSM-IV criteria. The emergence of bingeing and control as two distinct factors is an important distinction that needs to be considered when attempting to provide accurate incidence rates of binge eating and bulimic symptomatology in adolescents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Relationship between menopausal stage and age and quality of relationships with partners, children and friends.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the interaction of menopausal stage and age with the quality of women's relationships with their partners, children and close friends. METHODS: Females from a community sample (n = 48, age range 35-65 years) volunteered to participate in structured interviews. Questions relating to demographic background and relationships with partners, children and friends were included. Seventeen women were premenopausal, 16 women had been postmenopausal for 1-5 years and 15 women had been postmenopausal for between 6 and 10 years. RESULTS: The association of age and menopausal stage could not be separated when relationships with partners were considered. Premenopausal and younger women appeared to be more satisfied and more positive, and rated their relationship as more important to them than did older and postmenopausal women. Menopausal stage, but not age, appeared to be associated with the satisfaction women had with their children and the desire to see their children more often. When the two groups of postmenopausal women were compared, it was found that those women postmenopausal for 1-5 years wanted to see their children more often and were more dissatisfied with the relationship they had with their children than those women postmenopausal for 6-10 years. There were no effects of menopausal stage or age when the quality of close friendships was considered. CONCLUSIONS: Further work is needed to explore the implications of these findings as they relate to the interaction of menopausal stage and age with the quality of interpersonal relationships.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Sexuality and quality of life among young people.

Associations between quality of life and attitudes toward, and experience of, sexual activities during adolescence were investigated in a sample of 240 Australian university students. Sexuality was explored using the Sexual Knowledge, Experience and Needs Scale (SexKen). Both objective and subjective quality of life were evaluated in seven domains using the Comprehensive Quality of Life Scale (ComQol). The findings demonstrated the importance of relationships and sexual experience to satisfaction with life. The results are discussed in terms of the significance of sexuality for general well-being during adolescence.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

The influence of societal factors on female body image.

This study was designed to identify factors associated with the perceptual and attitudinal components of female body image. The influence of society and factors thought to mediate the relationship between body image and society (field dependence, locus of control, and self-esteem) were investigated. Age and body mass index (BMI) were also included as independent variables. A total of 101 female university students in Australia ranging in age from 18 to 55 years (M = 24.11) participated in the study. A video camera apparatus (VCA) was used to assess perceptual distortion of body size. The VCA, the Body Esteem Scale, and the Appearance Evaluation subscale of the Multidimensional Body Self Relations Questionnaire were used to assess body satisfaction. On average, women underestimated their body sizes by 4%, and they typically wanted to be smaller than their actual body sizes. About two fifths of the women expressed moderate to strong negative feelings about both individual body parts and their bodies as a whole. Multiple regression analyses revealed that perceptual distortion of body size could not be predicted from the independent variables. Body satisfaction was best explained by societal factors, self-esteem, and BMI.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Intimacy and quality of life among sexually dysfunctional men and women.

This study evaluated the associations between intimacy, quality of life, and sexual dysfunction in men and women. Participants were 145 sexually functional (43 men, 102 women) adults drawn from the general population and 198 sexually dysfunctional (114 men, 84 women) adults who came to a university sexual behavior clinic. All respondents were currently involved in a heterosexual relationship. Respondents completed a series of questionnaires to evaluate the level of intimacy in their relationships, their quality of life, and their level of sexual dysfunction. All aspects of intimacy were lower among sexually dysfunctional men than among sexually functional men for all subgroups of dysfunctionality (premature ejaculation, erectile failure, and lack of sexual desire). Levels of intimacy were less likely to discriminate between functional and dysfunctional women, with functional women only obtaining higher intimacy scores than each of the dysfunctional groups of women (inorgasmia, lack of arousal, lack of sexual desire) for social intimacy and recreational intimacy and, to a lesser extent, for sexual intimacy. Objective levels of quality of life as well as the satisfaction and importance of the quality of life domains were more likely to be lower when sexually dysfunctional women were compared with their functional counterparts than when sexually dysfunctional men were compared with their functional counterparts. The implications of these findings for an understanding of factors that contribute to sexual dysfunction, and the treatment of these disorders, is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Sex education programs for people with mental retardation.

Data relating to sexual knowledge, needs, and experience of people with mental retardation and attitudes of caregivers and parents were evaluated. Results suggest that individuals with mental retardation have an unmet need for sexual knowledge, which has occurred, in part, because of the largely negative attitudes of caregivers and parents about the sexuality of these individuals. Their sexuality is either ignored or perceived as a problem. Available sex education programs are generally concerned with providing information on a limited range of subjects, with no assessments of individuals' needs or of reliability, validity, or effectiveness of programs. Adequate sex education must be provided to protect the rights of this population.

Civil Rights↗
PubMed1992

An evaluation of therapeutic programs for the treatment of secondary inorgasmia in women.

This paper is concerned with a review and evaluation of programs for the treatment of secondary inorgasmia in women. Treatments address a wide range of factors. They include medical and psychiatric disorders, lack of sexual knowledge and communication between partners, marital disharmony, sexual anxiety, and performance anxiety. These treatment approaches are evaluated, along with the effectiveness of Masters and Johnson's therapy, and the many variants of this approach. The use of erotic fantasy in the treatment of this condition is also discussed. Conclusions are limited by the nature of research in this area. It is essentially clinical in form. Often it fails to define the characteristics of the conditions that are required to assess contributing factors, treatment strategies, and pre- and posttreatment measures.

Female↗