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Personal and Social Factors Associated with Levels of Eating Disorder Symptoms in the Postpartum Period: An Application of the “Tend and Befriend” Model of Stress Responses for Women

Janco-Gidley, Julie Anne
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1153761122

Abstract Details

2006, Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, Counseling Psychology.
Ninety postpartum women participated in a study examining protective factors against eating disorder symptomology during the postpartum period. Using Taylor et al’s “tend and befriend” theory of stress responses for women (2000) and considering disordered eating as on a continuum, it was hypothesized that if women engage in more “tending and befriending” responses at this stressful point in their lives (e.g., nurturing one’s infant, breastfeeding, mobilizing social support), they have less eating symptomology than if they engage in fewer of these behaviors. Specific hypotheses examined corrleations between parental stress and eating disorder symptoms and how use of tending and befriending behaviors statistically predicted eating disorder symptoms and percieved parental stress separately, in an additive manner, and as moderators for the relation between stress and eating disorder symptoms. A relationship was found between parental stress and Eating Disorder Inventory –2 (EDI) total scores, however no significant relationships were found between stress and the specific eating disorder behaviors of interest (e.g. Drive for Thinness, Bulimia, and Body Dissatisfaction subscale scores). Tending behavior was a significant predictor of parental stress and EDI total scores as expected, but again not of any of the specific eating disorder behavioral variables of interest. Similarly, befriending variables statistically predicted eating disorder symptoms (EDI total scores and Drive for Thinness), and stress, but did not predict Bulimia or Body Dissatisfaction. These results showed that greater amounts of befriending were associated with lower EDI total scores and lower parental stress scores. In addition, an additive effect was found for tending and befriending behaviors for EDI total scores. No interaction effects were found; therefore "Tending and Befriending" do not moderate the relation between stress and eating disorder symptoms. Overall, the results of this study provide evidence that there is a relationship between stress and tending and befriending behaviors and to EDI total scores, but not necessarily to specific eating disorder behaviors. Additional exploratory findings showed that tending and befriending behaviors also combine in an additive manner to predict parental stress. Qualitative data from participants as well as suggestions for future research and implications for practice are also discussed.
Linda Subich (Advisor)
177 p.
Psychology, Clinical
postpartum women; eating disorders; eating disorder continuum; tend and befriend theory; parental stress; social support

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Janco-Gidley, J. A. (2006). Personal and Social Factors Associated with Levels of Eating Disorder Symptoms in the Postpartum Period: An Application of the “Tend and Befriend” Model of Stress Responses for Women [Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1153761122

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Janco-Gidley, Julie. Personal and Social Factors Associated with Levels of Eating Disorder Symptoms in the Postpartum Period: An Application of the “Tend and Befriend” Model of Stress Responses for Women. 2006. University of Akron, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1153761122.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Janco-Gidley, Julie. "Personal and Social Factors Associated with Levels of Eating Disorder Symptoms in the Postpartum Period: An Application of the “Tend and Befriend” Model of Stress Responses for Women." Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron, 2006. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1153761122

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

akron1153761122
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© 2006, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Akron and OhioLINK.