With so many messages thrown to young people through Social Media channels, media images, and popular television ‘reality’ shows, many can feel completely inadequate in terms of how they portray their own body image. Align these self-perceptions of body image alongside concerns about mental-health, it is simple to see how destructive inner-conversations can become.
Psychology researcher Renee Engeln, whose book “Beauty Sick: How the Cultural Obsession with Appearance Hurts Girls and Women” argues that even younger children are now becoming obsessed with their body-image, leading to the “epidemic of beauty sickness,” and that small changes in how girls think and talk about themselves can help them become more comfortable in their skin. See her TEDx talk below.
In her book, Engeln offers a fill-in-the-blank exercise that can be used with young people to feel more gratitude for their bodies.
I use my arms to __________.
My body helps me to __________.
I love that my body can ___________.
My legs allow me to __________.
My body feels strongest when _________.
Engeln found that focusing on what their bodies could do led young people to feel better about how their bodies looked, and could be a great activity to be used in schools to help students value the awesomeness of their own bodies.
more recommended stories
Childhood connection to nature has many benefits but is not universally positiveA review finds a connection to.
Expand school digital literacy lessons to cover health technologies used by young peopleYoung people are accessing digital health.
Children who have difficult relationships with their mothers are clingy towards teachersUSA based researchers found that these.
Getting children to eat their greens? Both parents need to set an exampleA positive example set by both.
Love matters: How parents’ love shapes children’s livesParents often put their own relationship.
Teacher race and gender bias: Perceptions of students’ approach to learning affects gradesResearchers in the USA look at.
Sitting still linked to increased risk of depression in adolescentsYoung people who are inactive for.
Short, intensive training improves children’s healthShort periods of intensive training motivates.
Children’s mental health is effected by sleep durationImportant associations identified between sleep duration.
Brain networks come ‘online’ during adolescence to prepare teenagers for adult lifeHow different regions of the brain.
Leave a Comment