School of Psychological Science

		Professor Eleanor Wertheim Professor		Phone: +61 3 9479 2478 Fax: +61 3 9479 1956 e.wertheim@latrobe.edu.au Room 402 George Singer Building
		BA (Brandeis), MA, PhD (Conneticut), FAPS

I received a Ph.D. in clinical psychology in the United States at the University of Connecticut, 1981, having spent a one-year internship at a psychiatric hospital in California. I then worked for a year at a Community Mental Health Centre near Boston. In 1982, I joined La Trobe University where I have been since, contributing to undergraduate and post-graduate programs and teaching in the areas of counselling and therapeutic skills and cognitive behavioural interventions.

I have been the recipient of several awards for excellence in teaching, including an Australian Award for University Teaching (Biological Sciences, Health and Related Studies) in 2004; an Australian Psychological Society Excellence in Teaching Award (2004); the Faculty Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching (2003); a La Trobe Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (2006); and a national Carrick Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (2006).

I have two main areas of special interest

1. conflict resolution and the processes related to forgiveness and reconciliation and
2. eating disorders and body concerns.

As part of my interest in conflict resolution, I have conducted and facilitated many professional development programs in negotiation and conflict analysis. This has included working with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (Geneva) since 1995 on programs in Austria, Norway, and Africa which included facilitating and lecturing in programs for UN staff and diplomats on the topics of preventive diplomacy and peace making. I have also taught negotiation in the School of Law and Legal Studies at La Trobe, and have been on the national and state committees of Psychologists for Peace. My current research interest in conflict resolution involves examining the factors that lead to forgiveness and reconciliation after perceived wrongs committed by others.

I am a co-investigator on the Enhancing Relationships in School Communities Project for primary schools, in which teams of teachers and principals from schools take part in a two-year program to build their capacity to resolve conflict constructively, promote cultural diversity and help children learn creative and positive ways to handle interpersonal challenges.

My interest in the area of eating disorders, disordered eating, and body concerns in adolescents and women has been supported by ARC and Australian Rotary Health Research grants. My most recent research involves examining body image changes over the course of pregnancy and the post-partum period, as well as examining the effects of mothers' eating patterns and body image on their children. In addition I have been actively evaluating prevention and early intervention programs for adolescent girls and women, including using internet technology. I have also conducted or supervised a variety of studies on topics including longitudinal predictors of disordered eating and examination of sociocultural influences in disordered eating and body concerns.

Selected Publications

Grants

Memberships and Associations

Registered with Psychologists Registration Board of Victoria
Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society
Member of College of Clinical Psychologists
Member of College of Community Psychologists

National Secretary of Psychologists for Peace, an interest group of the Australian Psychological Society

Selected Publications

On conflict resolution and forgiveness
Rizkalla, L., Wertheim, E. H., & Hodgson, L. (in press). An examination of relationships among disposition to forgive, conflict management styles, emotion management and perspective taking tendencies. Journal of Research in Personality.

Koutsos, P., Wertheim, E. H., & Kornblum, J. (2008). Paths to interpersonal forgiveness: The roles of personality, disposition to forgive and contextual factors in predicting forgiveness following a specific offence. Journal of Personality and Individual Differences, 44, 337-348.

Hodgson, L. K., & Wertheim, E. H. (2007). Does good emotion management aid in the process of forgiving? An examination of the role of multiple dimensions of empathy in the relationship between emotion management and forgiveness of self and others. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 24, 931-949.

Wertheim, E. H., Freeman, E., Trinder, M., & Sanson, A. (2006). Lessons learned from the Enhancing Relationships in School Communities project. The Australian Community Psychologist, 18, 71-81.

Wertheim, E. H., Love, A., Peck, C., & Littlefield, L. (2006). Skills for resolving conflict: A co-operative problem solving approach, 2nd edition. Emerald, VIC: Eruditions. For more information on this book go to: http://www.eruditions.com/wertheim.htm

Ristovski, A. & Wertheim, E. H. (2005). The effects of source of compensation and trait empathy on forgiveness and satisfaction with outcome in the criminal context. Australian Psychologist, 40, 63-69.

Wertheim, E. H. (1998). The UNITAR-IPA Fellowship Programme in Peacemaking and Preventive Diplomacy: A training programme for the United Nations. Invited communication for Pacifica Review, 10, 69-76.

Littlefield, L., Love, A., Peck, C. & Wertheim, E.H. (1993). A model for resolving conflict: Some theoretical, empirical and practical implications. Australian Psychologist, 28, 80-85.

Wertheim, E.H., Love, A., Littlefield, L., & Peck, C. (1992). I win: You win. Melbourne: Penguin Pub.

On excellence in teaching
Wertheim, E. H. (2006). Developing excellence in teaching: From making it through the first day to making a real difference. In M. Katsikitis (Ed.) Proceedings of the 40th Australian Psychological Society Annual Conference, 2005 (p. 367-371).

On disordered eating and body concerns
Clark, A., Skouteris, H., Wertheim, E., Paxton, S., & Milgrom, J. (in press). The relationship between depression and body dissatisfaction across pregnancy and the postpartum: A prospective study. Journal of Health Psychology.

Kamysheva, E., Skouteris, H., Wertheim, E. H., Paxton, S. J., & Milgrom, J. (in press). Examination of a multi-factorial model of body-related experiences during pregnancy: The relationships among physical symptoms, sleep quality, depression, self-esteem, and negative body attitudes. Body Image: An International Journal of Research.

Kamysheva, K., Wertheim, E., Skouteris, H., Paxton, S., & Milgrom, J. (in press). Frequency, severity and effect on life of physical symptoms experienced during pregnancy. Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health.

Duncombe, D., Wertheim, E. H., Skouteris, H., Paxton, S. & Kelly, L. (in press). Factors related to exercise over the course of pregnancy including women’s beliefs about the safety of exercise during pregnancy. Midwifery.

Skouteris, H., Germano, C., Wertheim, E. H., Paxton, S. J. & Milgrom, J. (in press). Sleep quality and depression during pregnancy: A prospective study. Journal of Sleep Research.

Skouteris, H., Wertheim, E. H., Rallis, S., Germano, C., Paxton, S. J., Kelly, L. & Milgrom, J. (in press). Use of complementary and alternative medicines by a sample of Australian women during pregnancy, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Zammit, S., Skouteris, H., Wertheim, E., Paxton, S., & Milgrom, J. (in press). Pregnant women’s alcohol consumption: The predictive utility of intention to drink and pre-pregnancy drinking behaviour, Journal of Women’s Health.

Wertheim, E.H., Paxton, S.J., & Blaney, S. (2008). Body image in girls. In L. Smolak & J.K. Thompson (Eds.) Body image, eating disorders and obesity in youth (2nd edition). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Duncombe, D., Wertheim, E. H., Skouteris, H., Paxton, S. J. & Kelly, L. (2008). How well do women adapt to changes in their body size and shape across the course of pregnancy? Journal of Health Psychology, 13, 497-509.

Heinicke, B. E., Paxton, S. J., McLean, S. A., & Wertheim, E. H. (2007). Internet-delivered targeted group intervention for body dissatisfaction and disordered eating in adolescent girls: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 35, 379-391.

Rallis, S., Skouteris, H., Wertheim, E. H., & Paxton, S. J. (2007). Predictors of body image during the first year postpartum: A prospective study. Women and Health, 45, l 87-104.

Paxton, S. J., McLean, S., Gollings, E. K., Faulkner, C., & Wertheim, E. H. (2007). Comparison of face-to-face and internet interventions for body image and eating problems in adult women: A RCT. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 40, 692-704 .

Duncombe, D., Skouteris, H., Wertheim, E. H., Kelly, L., Fraser, V. & Paxton, S. J. (2006). Vigorous exercise and birth outcomes in a sample of recreational exercisers: A prospective study across pregnancy. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 46, 288-292.

Neumark-Sztainer, D., Levine, M., Paxton, S., Smolak, L., Piran, N., Wertheim, E. H. (2006). Prevention of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating: What next? Eating Disorders: A Journal of Treatment and Prevention, 14, 265-285.

Evans, L. & Wertheim, E. H. (2006). Sexual abuse, bulimic symptoms, depression and satisfaction in adult relationships. Eating and Weight Disorders, 11, 61-17.

Weiss, K. & Wertheim, E. H. (2005). An evaluation of a prevention program for disordered eating in adolescent girls: Examining responses of high- and low-risk girls. Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention.

Durkin, S., Paxton, S. J., & Wertheim, E. H. (2005). How do adolescent girls evaluate body dissatisfaction prevention messages? Journal of Adolescent Health, 37, 381-390.

Nejad, L, Wertheim, E. H., & Greenwood, K. (2005). A comparison of the Health Belief Model and the Theory of Planned Behaviour in dieting and fasting behaviour. E-Journal of Applied Psychology, 1, 63-74.

Skouteris, H., Carr, R., Wertheim, E., Paxton, S.J, & Duncombe, D. (2005). A prospective study of factors that lead to body image dissatisfaction during pregnancy. Body Image: An International Journal of Research, 2, 347-361.

Wertheim, E. H., Paxton, S. J., & Blaney, S. (2004). Risk factors for the development of body image disturbances. In J. K. Thompson & L. Smolak (Eds.) Handbook of Eating Disorders and Obesity, (pp. 463-494). New York: J. Wiley & Sons.

Keery, H., Shroff, H., Thompson, J.K., Wertheim, E.H., Smolak, L. (2004). The Sociocultural Internalization of Appearance Questionnaire – Adolescents (SIAQ-A): Psychometric analysis and normative data for three countries. Eating and Weight Disorders, 9, 56-61.

Tilgner, L., Wertheim, E. H., & Paxton, S. J. (2004). The effect of social desirability on adolescent girls’ responses to an eating disorders prevention program. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 35, 211-216.

Wertheim, E. H., Paxton, S. J., & Tilgner, L. (2004). Test-retest reliability and construct validity of Contour Drawing Rating Scale scores in a sample of early adolescent girls. Body Image: An International Journal of Research, 1, 199-205.

Withers, G. & Wertheim, E. H. (2004). Applying the Elaboration Likelihood Model of Persuasion to a videotape-based eating disorders prevention program for adolescent girls. Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention, 12, 103-124.

Boscaglia, N., Skouteris, H., & Wertheim, E. H. (2003). Changes in body image satisfaction during pregnancy: A comparison of high exercising and low exercising women. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 43,41-45.

Paxton, S.J., Wertheim, E.H., Pilawski, A., Durkin, S.J. & Holt, T. (2002). Evaluations of dieting prevention messages by adolescent girls. Preventive Medicine, 35, 474-491.

Schutz, H. K., Paxton, S. J., & Wertheim, E. H. (2002). Investigation of body comparison among adolescent girls. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 32, 1906-1937

van den Berg, P., Wertheim, E. H., Thompson, J. K., & Paxton, S. J. (2002). Development of body image, eating disturbance, and general psychological functioning in adolescent females: A replication using covariance structure modeling in an Australian sample. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 32, 46-51.

Wertheim, E. H., Martin, G., Prior, M. & Sanson, A. (2002). Parent influences in the transmission of eating and weight related values and behaviours. Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention, 10, 321-324.

Withers, G., Twigg, K., Wertheim, E.H., & Paxton, S.J. (2002). A controlled evaluation of an eating disorders primary prevention videotape using the Elaboration Likelihood Model of Persuasion. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 53, 1021 – 1027.

Wertheim, E., Koerner, J., and Paxton, S. J. (2001). Longitudinal predictors of restrictive eating and bulimic tendencies in adolescent girls: Age differences between early and middle adolescence in predictions of change. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 30, 69-81.

Heinze, V., Wertheim, E. H., Kashima, Y. (2000). An evaluation of the importance of message source and age of recipient in a primary prevention program for eating disorders. Eating Disorders: The Journal of Prevention and Treatment , 8, 131-145.

Lunner, K., Wertheim, E. H., Thompson, J.K., Paxton, S. J., McDonald, F., & Halvarsson, R. (2000). A cross-cultural investigation of the role of teasing, and weight and dieting concerns in adolescent girls from Sweden and Australia. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 48, 430-435.

Martin, G., Wertheim, E. H., Prior, M., Smart, D., Sanson, A., & Oberklaid, F. (2000). A longitudinal study of the role of childhood temperament in the later development of eating concerns. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 27, 150-162.

Wertheim, E. H., Mee, V. & Paxton, S. J. (1999). Relationships among adolescent girls' eating behaviours and their parents' weight related attitudes and behaviors. Sex Roles, 41, 169-187.

Paxton, S.J., Schutz, H., Wertheim, E.H. (1999). Friendship cliques as peer influences on body image attitudes, dietary restraint, extreme weight loss behaviours and binge eating in adolescent girls. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 108, 255-266.

Wertheim, E.H., Paxton, S.J., Schutz, H., and Muir, S. L. (1997). Why do adolescent girls watch their weight? An interview study examining sociocultural pressures to be thin. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 42, 345-55.

Examples of recent grants received

Heart Foundation Grant-In-Aid, 2008-2009 (Susan Paxton, Karen Campbell, Eleanor Wertheim, Kay Gibbons, Helen Skouteris).
A test of a model predicting eating behaviours in young children: A prospective study.

Australian Research Council Linkage Grant, 2007-2009 (Glenda MacNaughton, Eleanor Wertheim, Elizabeth Freeman).
Creating cuturally respectful primary schools: Enhancing Relationships through Strategic Professional Learning.
Linkage partners include Scanlon Foundation, Catholic Education Office Victoria, Australian Psychological Society, Haig St. Primary School, St. Anthony’s Primary School, Alphington.

La Trobe University Online Teaching Fund, 2007-2008 (Eleanor Wertheim, Anthony Love, Ben Ong, Bradley Wright).
Grant to develop an online unit on “Ethics and Professional Issues in Professional Psychology”

Morawetz Social Justice Fund, 2006-2007 (Eleanor Wertheim, Elizabeth Freeman, Margot Trinder, & Ann Sanson)
Enhancing relationships in school communities ( a program to support primary school teachers in providing conflict resolution training and promoting cultural diversity).

Australian Rotary Health Grant 2006 (Susan Paxton & Eleanor Wertheim).
Development and evaluation of a group cognitive behavioural body image and eating behaviour intervention for women in midlife.

Scanlon Foundation (formerly Brencorp Foundation) 2005-2007 (Elizabeth Freeman, Eleanor Wertheim, Margot Trinder, & Ann Sanson)
Enhancing relationships in school communities ( a program to support primary school teachers in providing conflict resolution training and promoting cultural diversity).

Australian Government Department of Health and Aging (Alcohol and Harm Reduction Initiatives Section) 2005-2006. (Helen Skouteris, Eleanor Wertheim, Susan Paxton).
A prospective study of the factors that predict abstinence and low to moderate alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

Australian Research Council Discovery Grant 2005-2007. (Eleanor Wertheim, Susan Paxton, Helen Skouteris & Jeanette Milgrom)
Body image concerns during pregnancy and the post-partum: What are the predictors and consequences?

Australian Rotary Health Grant 2003-2005. (Susan Paxton & Eleanor Wertheim).
An examination of the efficacy of an internet delivered group therapy program for body image and eating problems: A randomised controlled trial.

Australian Rotary Health Research Fund 2000-2002
Evaluation and development of a program to prevent disordered eating behaviours in early adolescent girls. (Eleanor Wertheim & Susan Paxton).