Achieving Anorexia: An Improbable but Possible Aspiration Among College-Age Students

Conference Year

January 2020

Abstract

My research examines the extent and degree to which undergraduate students engage with pro-ana websites, whether this engagement leads to internalization of pro-ana messages, and whether internalization mediates a hypothesized relationship between engagement in pro-ana communities, eating disorder symptoms, and positive attitudes toward anorexia nervosa (AN) and/or AN-associated thinness. This research will also examine the extent to which pro-ana related behaviors and attitudes correlate with demographic variables, body satisfaction, and eating disorder symptomatology. Through this research, I hope to also touch upon whether the presence of the low body-weight criterium for AN in the DSM-V may play a role in eating disorder development, maintenance, and issues with recovery.

Primary Faculty Mentor Name

Antonio Cepeda-Benito

Graduate Student Mentors

Thomas Geist, Emily Pomichter

Faculty/Staff Collaborators

Dr. Antonio Cepeda-Benito (Thesis Advisor), Thomas Geist (Graduate Student Mentor), Emily Pomichter (Graduate Student Mentor)

Status

Undergraduate

Student College

College of Arts and Sciences

Program/Major

Psychological Science

Primary Research Category

Social Sciences

Secondary Research Category

Health Sciences

Tertiary Research Category

Arts & Humanities

Abstract only.

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Achieving Anorexia: An Improbable but Possible Aspiration Among College-Age Students

My research examines the extent and degree to which undergraduate students engage with pro-ana websites, whether this engagement leads to internalization of pro-ana messages, and whether internalization mediates a hypothesized relationship between engagement in pro-ana communities, eating disorder symptoms, and positive attitudes toward anorexia nervosa (AN) and/or AN-associated thinness. This research will also examine the extent to which pro-ana related behaviors and attitudes correlate with demographic variables, body satisfaction, and eating disorder symptomatology. Through this research, I hope to also touch upon whether the presence of the low body-weight criterium for AN in the DSM-V may play a role in eating disorder development, maintenance, and issues with recovery.