2005 Media Releases
March 22, 2005
Your Body Shape and Your Partner
Women--how does your partner feel about your body shape?
It is important because it may have a bearing on whether some of you continue to overeat.
La Trobe University clinical psychologist, Dr Lynette would like to hear from you to assist with a research project entitled: The Impact of Partner Feedback About Weight and Appearance On Women’s Eating Behaviours.
The project will examine whether male partners either give complements or criticisms about weight and appearance because women encourage them.
Dr. Evans, who specialises in relationship therapy, proposes that if a woman feels negative about her body, weight, or appearance then she may be more likely to develop a relationship with a partner who criticises her on her weight and appearance.
These criticisms may in turn encourage the woman to feel bad about her weight and appearance and continue to participate in disordered eating.
Dr Evans said the research was important to clarify interpersonal factors that may contribute to eating disorders. ‘The outcomes may provide a means of examining treatments for women with eating disorders that focus on their relationship with their partners,’ she said.
She seeks women with concerns about eating problems or body image and their partners to participate in the study. Couples need to have been involved in the relationship for at least six months, but do not need to have been living together.
Volunteers will receive in the mail a confidential questionnaire which takes about 40 minutes to complete.
For further information:
Please contact Dr. Evans on (03) 9479 3369 #3369/1674, or email: l.evans@latrobe.edu.au or La Trobe Public Affairs (03) 9479 2316.