Workshop 1C

Jennifer A. O’Dea
MPH, PhD
“Body Image Research and Self
Esteem Strategies for Pastoral Care
and PDHPE Programs ”
AIS Pastoral Care Conference
Sydney Airport Mercure
Hotel, August 10, 2009
www.personal.edfac.usyd.edu.au/staff/odeaj/
12-18 year old girls
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Fasting
Vomiting
Smoking
Laxatives
Chewonly
Pills
Yes
Outcomes of poor self esteem & poor body image?
The child’s physical, mental, emotional, social,
spiritual health is damaged and/or delayed
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Physical damage
Psychological/Emotional issues
Social isolation, inability to function normally
Low self esteem and a sense of failure
Sense of hopelessness, guilt, shame, unworthiness
Spiritually devoid – “my life will begin when I lose weight”
“I will be happy/successful/acceptable when I lose weight”
“Girls will like me, others will respect me when I get built”
Cycle of dieting, restraint, binge eating etc
Dieting predicts eating disorders
Weight gain
Low self-esteem in children and
adolescents predicts
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Eating disorders
Depression
Drug and alcohol abuse
School dropout
Suicide
Poor academic outcomes
Teen pregnancy
Mann et al, Health Ed
Research , August, 2004
The self-esteem approach
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Expand self-image beyond the physical self
Develop self acceptance and self worth
Develop acceptance and tolerance of others
Value differences and diversity
Reinforce the uniqueness, value, worth of students
“Everybody’s Different”
Understand how the media “works” to make us
dissatisfied and ready to “buy” the solution to our
problems
• Reject media stereotypes
• Accept self and others without perfection
Activities from Everybody’s
Different
•What makes up a person?
• Strength Cards
•Who do I admire?
Media Literacy from the
Everybody’s Different Program
• Value differences &
diversity
• Respect for self and
others
• Reduce perfectionism
• Analysis of gender
stereotypes
• Media literacy
• What is a
stereotype????
But What about Media
Images for Boys???
Magazine activity suitable
for boys (and girls of
course!)
Online activity- great for girls
and boys
http://demo.fb.se/e/girlpower/retouch/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U
http://homepage.mac.com/gapodaca/digital/bikini/bikini1.html
Activities for boys consumerism
Teaching about puberty in a positive way
Teen species BBC website for
teaching puberty
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http:www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/body/interactives/lifecycle/teenagers/
Child health encompasses so much more
than weight!
• A state of complete
physical, mental and
social well-being (WHO,
1948)
• Not merely the absence of
disease or infirmity
• Not merely the absence of
overweight!