Aim: the Aim of the Study Is to Understand Adolescent Females Attitudes About Distorted

Name:____________________________________

Practice IPA

Directions: Below are 3 different interviews. Using what you learned about IPA, create themes to draw a conclusion about the data.

Aim: The aim of the study is to understand adolescent females’ attitudes about distorted eating.

Interview 1:

Interviewer: Good Morning, today we will be discussing your eating habits, the way you feel about your eating habits and your body image, and some past experiences. Please be as honest as possible. If at any time you wish to stop the interview you may do so.

Participant A: Okay. Thank you.

Interviewer: How many meals do you have a day?

Participant A: I eat three meals a day or I try to.

Interviewer: Can you explain what you mean by “try to?”

Participant A: Well, I know that I should eat three balanced meals a day and all, you know the food pyramid and all that stuff you learn in elementary school. But, sometimes I’m just not hungry in the morning, and I don’t want to waste the calories, so I sometimes skip.

Interviewer: By “save the calories” what do you mean?

Participant A: You know, 2,000 calories is a healthy diet. If I’m not hungry I can save my calories and eat them later.

Interviewer: Where did you learn that form>

Participant A: Oh, in school I’m sure. Someone told me ‘eat 2,000 calories a day to be healthy.’ It’s all about healthy eating and being active in elementary school these days.

Interviewer: And how do you determine what weight is healthy?

Participant A: Wow, I’m not really sure. I mean, Beyonce, she’s healthy. She’s not too skinny, but looks good. Rhianna too, she looks healthy.

Interviewer: Do you think they eat 2,000 calories a day?

Participant A: Probably not. They probably eat really healthy, you know, not many calories.

Interviewer: Have you ever purposefully eaten too few calories?

Participant A: Yea, not a lot, but sometimes. Like before a big dance, or something where I want to look good for pictures. I may not eat all day. Also, if I know I am going to get a really good dinner, I’ll save my calories.

Interviewer: So, do you associate calories with fat, or energy?

Participant A: hmmmm, I guess with fat. I mean you know, all those commercials telling people to count calories, and all those diet things with ‘no calories.’ Calories = bad I guess. That’s what I try to control them.

Interviewer: Okay, thank you very much for your participation.

Interview 2:

Participant B: Okay, cool. Shoot!

Interviewer: How many meals do you have a day?

Participant B: I eat when I’m hungry. Sometimes I eat one or two big meals, sometimes I eat a few smaller ones. I don’t like to overeat.

Interviewer: And what is your definition of ‘overeating?’

Participant B: You know, I don’t like to feel full. I hate that feeling of ughhh I ate soooo much

Interviewer: What do you usually eat at meal times?

Participant B: I try to eat salads, and chicken, I stay away from junk food.

Interviewer: Why, what’s so wrong with some junk food?

Participant B: It isn’t healthy. I want to be healthy.

Interviewer: And what is your definition of ‘healthy?’

Participant B: You know, healthy, thin. Like Rhianna, she’s healthy.

Interviewer: And so you want to eat small portions to be healthy?

Participant B: Yes. Small portions means healthy.

Interviewer: Why is this so important to you?

Participant B: I don’t know. I mean, I know, I want guys to like me, and one day I’d like to be an actress. You have to be healthy if you want that. So I eat healthy.

Interviewer: You associate less calories with healthy?

Participant B: Yea. You know, 2,000 calorie diet or whatever. You eat less, and you lose weight, eat more and gain weight. So I try to eat less

Interviewer: And where did you learn that concept?

Participant B: I guess school, or TV, those weight loss commercials. You take stuff or work out to speed up metabolism that burns calories. So the less calories the more healthy you are.

Interviewer: Okay thank you so much for your input.

Interview 3:

Participant C: Alright

Interviewer: How many meals do you eat a day?

Participant C: Three usually.

Interviewer: Are these planned meals?

Participant C: Yes. My mom makes breakfast for the whole family to eat together. Then we have lunch in school, and my mom makes dinner too. We eat at the table together.

Interviewer: And, how much would you say you eat at these meals?

Participant C: I don’t know, I eat what my mom gives me. A plate-full I guess.

Interviewer: What types of food do you eat?

Participant C: Lots. Chicken, steak, port, vegetables, bread sometimes, salad. If its breakfast we have eggs or pancakes or French toast.

Interviewer: Do you ever think about what you are eating?

Participant C: If it’s good! But my mom makes good food, so I eat it. I don’t really think too much about it.

Interviewer: Have you ever heard of the 2,000 calorie diet?

Participant C: Sure I have, in school we learned about it, when we were little, but how can I figure out calories when my mom cooks? I mean, she cooks ‘healthy’ I guess, like not a lot of fats and butter and stuff. We eat fruit and vegetables for snacks, but if I want chocolate, I’ll eat it. My mom always said that we could eat whatever, but should eat in moderation. So, I guess that’s what I do.

Interviewer: You mentioned cooking, ‘healthy,’ what is your idea of healthy?

Participant C: Getting enough food to stay awake during the day and focus. But not eating so much that it causes health issues.

Interviewer: If you had to pick a famous person to exemplify your idea of healthy, who would you choose?

Participant C: That’s tough. I mean, we didn’t really watch TV growing up. We read a lot. Reading is important to my mom. Ummm, healthy? I guess Jennifer Lawrence is healthy. I’ve read some of her interviews; she said she likes eating pizza, so that’s healthy.

Interviewer: Why does that make her healthy?

Participant C: Because she eats! Those super skinny girls, it just isn’t healthy. I can only imagine what kinds of health issues they have, their hearts have to be about to give out, and no immune system.

Interviewer: Where did you learn that low body weight can cause those problems?

Participant C: I read. I’ve read medical pamphlets on it. It can really mess up your body.

Interviewer: Well thank you very much for your time.