Research Article

Eating concerns and media influences in an Irish adolescent context

  1. Fiona McNicholas1,2,†,*,
  2. Alma Lydon3,‡,
  3. Ruth Lennon2,§,
  4. Barbara Dooley4,¶

Article first published online: 2 MAR 2009

DOI: 10.1002/erv.916

Issue

European Eating Disorders Review

European Eating Disorders Review

Volume 17, Issue 3, pages 208–213, May/June 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

McNicholas, F., Lydon, A., Lennon, R. and Dooley, B. (2009), Eating concerns and media influences in an Irish adolescent context. European Eating Disorders Review, 17: 208–213. doi: 10.1002/erv.916

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Child Psychiatry, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin12, Ireland

  2. 2

    Lucena Clinic Rathgar and University College Dublin, Ireland

  3. 3

    Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, London, UK

  4. 4

    University College Dublin, Dublin, UK

  1. †

    Professor.

  2. ‡

    Research Associate.

  3. §

    Research Psychologist.

  4. Head of UCD School of Psychology.

*Department of Child Psychiatry, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin12, Ireland.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 20 APR 2009
  2. Article first published online: 2 MAR 2009

Funded by

  • St. John of God Hospital research committee

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Keywords:

  • eating disorders;
  • adolescence;
  • media;
  • anorexia nervosa;
  • bulimia nervosa

Abstract

Objective

EPICA is the first large-scale Irish study of a school-going population examining the impact of media influences on eating attitudes.

Method

Students were screened using the EAT-26, EDI-III and a study-specific questionnaire. A sub-sample of parents' views was included.

Results

Three thousand and thirty-one students (mean age 14.74) and 56 parents enrolled. The majority (71.4%) of adolescents felt adversely affected by media portrayal of body weight and shape, with more than a quarter (25.6%) believing it to be ‘far too thin’. A significant correlation between media impact and high EAT scores (χ2 = 450.78, df = 2, p < 0.05) and EDI-III scores (χ2 = 387.51, df = 4, p < 0.05) was demonstrated. Parents also view media portrayal as too thin (94.7%), less than half are adversely affected by it (49.2%) but the majority (71.9%) believe their children to be.

Conclusion

Media portrayal of body weight and shape is correlated with eating psychopathology and may affect adolescents more than adults. School psycho-educational programmes and media policies are urgently needed to minimise any detrimental effect. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

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