Division of Professional Psychology
University of Northern Colorado
Introduction
A recent environmental assessment project undertaken at a large mountain
state university revealed many interesting and disturbing influences at work on
students' eating behavior, self-image, and sexuality . Using the methods of
anthropology and related techniques, the senior author examined a variety of
campus locales and milieus in an effort to obtain data on the environmental
messages embedded in them which affect eating disorders and self-image. The
study was requested by the Residence Life Office, and arose from concern with
the apparently increased incidence of eating disorders such as bulimia,
anorexia,binge eating or chronic dieting. Self-image is strongly coupled to these
disorders, which can affect both women and men, although the former are most
commonly identified as suffering from these disorders.
Campus Images
Through focused observations, photographs, clippings from print
publications, interviews and conversations, as well as survey data, a picture of the
factors present in the environment emerged. Overall, the campus' physical
environment configuration did not emerge as a contributor to the problem of
eating disorders, although certain locations were found to be serious exceptions.
In the bookstore, magazines directed toward women, such as Glamor,
Self, Elle, Cosmopolitan, etc., were paired with candy, snacks, and sweets,
creating a conflict between images of impossibly thin models in the magazines
and high calorie temptations to binge. The bookstore also displayed (discreetly)
such magazines as Penthouse and Playboy, which are considered to contribute to
the image of women as objects. During the period of campus observation,
changes were made in the configuration of the displays, and for at least a period
of time, the bookstore stopped stocking the so-called "men's" magazines.
While the dinning areas of the residence hall system were remarkably free
of ads, images, or notices which could be construed as a factor in the
development of eating disorders, some subtle influences emerged through the
interview process. The presence of large amounts of food, with permission to take
as much as one liked, created stress for some women with identified eating
disorders. In some, the urge was to take far too much food, while with others, the
pressure to remain "thin and attractive" (note how these words are paired!) led
them to try to take less than anyone else, causing later binge eating since they had
not had enough to eat at the meal. These women indicated that learning to
manage portion size and to cope with the variety and subtle attractiveness of
foods displayed was a source of stress. Residence Life Staff were found to be
informed and educated about eating disorders, alcohol, and other health problems
common to college students. Their concern was evident in the absence of
offensive images or ads, and the availability of many health oriented programs
targeted to their residents.
The men's residence halls presented additional images. One striking
finding was the pervasiveness of images on the doors of men's living quarters
which portrayed women as objects, blatantly or subtly sexual, always thin and
frequently paired with alcohol or material possessions such as sleek fast cars.
When men's and women's housing areas were separate, such images in areas
restricted to men only would have been less of a problem, but few campuses
today still segregate men and women's residences. Many women felt
uncomfortable walking these hallways, suggesting that this is a subtle form of
sexual harassment. This raises an interesting question of freedom of speech and
expression versus the rights of others. While there were also instances of male
models displayed on the doors of rooms occupied by women residents, these were
far less frequent, and the impact of them on men's self image is not known.
Conclusion
The connection between self-image, self-esteem and eating disorders is
well established (Bruch, 1973; SteinerAdair, 1991; and Johnson, 1991) so that
while many women are unaffected by the portrayal of impossibly beautiful and
thin models in the media, many others are either dramatically affected, or more
subtly so, to seek to emulate such images. Simply attempting to armor women on
the campus against the environmental pressures created by the media transmitted
values is probably not a viable intervention. Seeking to alter the environment,
while simultaneously supporting healthy attitudes about self, about food, and
about sexuality and sexual expression, is an approach more likely to bear fruit.
One of the central messages of the campus ecology movement is that multiple
interventions on several levels are more apt to be effective than a single
intervention. The changes made on the campus which was studied were evidence
of a positive attitude and genuine concern on the part of the campus's student
affairs administrators.
References and Sources ( Self-Esteem and Eating Disorders)
Burch, H . (1973). Eating disorders: Obesity, anorexia nervosa, and the person
within. New York: Basic Books.
Conners, M., Johnson, C., & Stuckey, M. (1984). Treatment of bulimia with brief psychoeducational group therapy. American Journal of Psychiarty, 141,
1512-1516.
Garner, D. M. & Garfinkel, P. E. (1978). Sociocultural factors in anorexia
nervosa. Lancet, 2, 674.
Johnson, C. (1991). Treatment of eating disordered patients with borderline and
false-self narcissistic disorders. In C. Johnson (Ed.). Psychodynamic treatment of
anorexia nervosa and bulimia. New York: Guilford Press.
Schwartz, D. M.,Thompson, M.G. & Johnson, C. (1982). Anorexia Nervosa and
bulimia: The socio-cultural context. International Journal of Eating Disorders, l,
23-25.
Steiner-Adair, K. (1991). New maps of development, new models of therapy: The psychology of women and the treatment of eating disorders. In C. Johnson, (Ed). Psychodynamic treatment of anorexia nervosa and bulimia. New York: Guilford Press
The foloowing posters and cartoons were collected from campus walls and campus newspapers. Each of the photographs send negative messages about women, issues of body image, and self esteem. Photographs 1 and 2 are of posters that were found within a university residence hall room that was prepared by the university to use as a "marketing room". The university, by selecting these posters, has sent its approval of a number of sexist messages including the use of the "stereotypic thin" female body image to sell the products of alcohol and "good" times.
Cartoon 1 is a campus newspaper cartoon with th oert message focused on "pentagon spending", but this message is only understood if one understands the stereotypic messages regarding "fat is ugly"; and "women are vain and stupid". the overt message in Cartoon 2 is again only understood by reading the sexist message in the photo.
These photographs are but a few examples that appear in various campus publications that exploit women and contribute to the psycho-cultural dynamics involved in the development of eating and other health problems experienced by campus women. These messages need to be commented on by the campus community to allow for increased sensitivity and the building of a healthier community for everyone.
Volume 3, Nos. 2/3/4 1988/89
The Journal of College Student Psychotherapy (Volume 3) is titled: The
Bulimic College Student: Evaluation, Treatment and Prevention . The following
chapters make up the content of this special issue:
Chapter 1
Some Perspectives on the Diagnosis of Bulimia Nervosa - Michael Strober & Joel
Yager
Chapter 2
Demographic Factors Associated with Bulimia in College Students: Clinical and
Research Implications - Marion A. Bilich
Chapter 3
Medical Complications of Bulimia - Preston Zucker
Chapter 4
Bulimia: A Sociocultural Interpretation-Richard - A.Gordon
Chapter 5
Etiological, Developmental and Treatment Considerations for Bulimia - Craig L.
Johnson, David L. Tobin & Stacey L. Steinberg
Chapter 6
Is It True Eating Makes You Feel Better?: A Naturalistic Assessment of Food
Consumption and Its Effects on Stress. - Melanie A. Katzman
Chapter 7
The College Scene Today: Two Views - Paul A. Grayson & JoAnne D.
Medalie
Chapter 8
Current College Environments: Do These Communities Facilitate and Foster
Bulimia - Leah J.Dickstein
Chapter 9
Separation-Individuation, Sense of Self, and Bulimia in College
Students - F. Diane Barth
Chapter 10
Developing theVoice ofthe Wise Women: College Students and Bulimia -
Catherine Steiner-Adair
Chapter 11
A Feminist Interpretation of College Student Bulimia - Victoria Wurman
Chapter 12
Impact of the College Environment on Bulimic Women - Kathryn
Bowen-Woodward & Leonard S. Levitz
Chapter 13
Treatment ofthe Bulimic Student: Considerations and Complications - Judith
Brisman
Chapter 14
Rebecca B., Control Artist: Case Study of a Bulimic Collegian - Steven W.
Emmett
Chapter 15
Peer Educators: A Creative Resource for the Eating Disordered College Student -
Robin Sesan
Chapter 16
A Model forAddressing the Problem of Bulimia on College Campuses - Kathy
Hotelling
Chapter 17
A Mulitfaceted and Integrated Approach to the Prevention, Identification, and
Treatment of Bulimia on College Campuses - Lawrence V. Clark, Michael P.
Levine, & Norman E. Kinney
Appendix:
The National Directory of College and University Mental Health Services
forEating Disorders - Benjamin R Sher
The Journal of College Student Psychotherapy is published by The Haworth Press, Inc.
ISSN: 87568225
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