Susan was appointed Professor in the School of Psychological Science at La Trobe University in 2002 after holding the position of Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne. She has a longstanding clinical and research interest in body image and eating disorders in a wide range of populations including children, adolescents, young adults and women in midlife. She has a particular interest in identification of risk factors for body dissatisfaction and disordered eating. This research is used to inform the development and evaluation of prevention interventions and early interventions, particularly for adolescent girls and young women. Another major focus is on the development of body image attitudes and eating behaviours in very young children when attitudes and behaviours are being established. In addition, she has conducted research evaluating internet delivered interventions and group programs for body image and eating disorders in young women and women in midlife and is now exploring community attitudes which hinder treatment seeking.
Susan has a strong commitment to the communication of research findings with the community and Government. Susan is a member of the Body Image Advisory Group which advises the Federal Minister for Youth, Kate Ellis, and a member of the Victorian State Ministerial Advisory Committee on Body Image and formerly a member of the Victorian Ministerial Advisory Committee for Eating Disorders. She is past President of the Australian and New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders, and was President of the Academy of Eating Disorders in 2009-2010. Susan is on the Board of Directors of the Butterfly Foundation and on the Steering Committee of the 2009 and 2010-2012 National Collaboration for Eating Disorders.
SUMMARY OF PROJECT:
The development of body image, internalisation of societal body ideals and dieting awareness in 3-5 year old girls and boys: The foundation for a longitudinal study
Although body image problems have been demonstrated to contribute to poor self-esteem, depressive symptoms and disordered eating during adolescence almost nothing is known about body image and body image attitudes in very young children 3-5 years old. We aim to fill this gap in our knowledge. Thus, in this pilot project we will examine body image beliefs and attitudes in girls and boys aged 3, 4 and 5 years. We will focus specifically on the early development of body size stereotyping (Stigma against larger body sizes), body size dissatisfaction and endorsement of social body ideals (thin for girls, muscular for boys). We will examine factors that are likely to influence the development of these attitudes including family environment factors, exposure to appearance focused media and peer influences.
A particular feature of this research is the use of recently developed age appropriate measures for assessing body image attitudes in this very young age group. It also forms the initial phase of a larger longitudinal study in which we will prospectively explore the early development of body image. Our research will have important implications for prevention research and will guide the development of programs to be implemented in early childhood settings including child care settings, pre-schools, and early years of schooling. If programs can be targeted towards children when they are in the process of developing these core constructs, they may be more effective at protecting them from later mental health issues and consequently have a significant impact on the mental health of young Australians.