Author(s):
Borralho, Cláudia 
Date: 2007
Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/326
Origin: Sapientia - Universidade do Algarve
Subject(s): Teses; Psicologia da saúde; Adolescentes; Alimentação; Representeções sociais
Description
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.
