Formas e sabores: representações do corpo e da comida em jovens do Baixo Alentejo

• Autor(es): Borralho, Cláudia
• Data: 2007
• Identificador Persistente: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/326
• Origem: Sapientia - Universidade do Algarve
• Assunto(s): Teses; Psicologia da saúde; Adolescentes; Alimentação; Representeções sociais
• Tipo de Documento: Dissertação de Mestrado
• Idioma: Português
• Orientador(es): Oliveira, Abílio

Descrição

Dissertação mest., Psicologia, Universidade do Algarve, 2008 This work focuses on the representations of the body and the conceptualization of food, which function as a leading thread to an in-depth study on how adolescents represent the body in general and in a more specific manner. For this purpose, 523 female and male adolescents, between ages 12-19, answered a questionnaire, which was wholly elaborated for this study. In order to obtain their opinion on the concept of the body (both in a wide and narrow perspective) and food (in accordance with the cognitive and symbolic dimensions) we opted for a method centered on the theory of the social representations. As observed in previous studies, we confirmed that girls expressed more concern regarding the body image than that expressed by boys. These worry more about weight and appearance. It is important to stress the common discomfort with the body that both genders demonstrated, although the male behavior is easier identifiable. Questions related with affective and sexual aspects don?t evidence a discrepancy between the two genders, pointing out the importance of sexuality during adolescence. We observed that those who attribute more importance to the context where the body exist, namely the facts that refer to life, health and sex, are older. In consequence, they highlight the relational and experimental components of the body, whereas those, who are younger, focus their attention on the physiognomical and maturative features of the body. It is important to emphasize that the former appear to be more happy and satisfied that the latter. When questioned about their own body, boys value the imagery associated with physical activities (such as running, sport, muscle, effort, strength), while girls give more significance to the image of the body, specifically to accessories (clothes) and the body itself (fat). Boys reinforce their curiosity about sexuality. Analyzing the group in terms of age, we verified that the representations of their own body are similar to those of the body in general. The observed girls allude more to the form of the body (they feel themselves fatter) than the boys. It is not clear that girls adopt behaviours of alimentary restriction; results only suggest that some of the named foods do not seem to be those that habitually enter in the diet. However, it is the girls that disclose to greater concern with the caloric composition, when compared with the boys. The oldest participants seem to have a bigger control on their alimentary options, gaining a more healthful alimentary style than the younger ones. This presumption is derives from the fact that the former reveal behaviours that denounce some planning and intrinsic rules to the alimentary behaviour, associate well-being, joy, satisfaction and energy, while that latter denote a less healthful diet (ice cream, pizza, burgers and chocolate) and, as a possible consequence , they disclose concerns with fat, health and activity. We conclude that in order to guide adolescents (particularly girls and younger adolescents) in a healthful and balanced diet, bearing in mind the values and symbolisms of the body in its diverse dimensions, is a great challenge for both professionals of health and educators (teachers, parents) in the scope of programs that aim the promotion and protection of health.