Body image issues among female adult children of alkoholics (ACOAs) : research report

Autorki w swoim artykule przedstawiają wyniki badań, zrealizowanych na grupie kobiet z syndromem DDA, z zastosowaniem kwestionariusza "Ja cielesne" w oprac. Beaty Mikuckiej i ustrukturowanego wywiadu. Celem badania była analiza sposobu doświadczania własnego ciała przez kobiety, które zgłosiły się do NZOZ Krakowskiego Centrum Uzależnień w celu objęcia ich programem terapeutycznym. Wyniki przeprowadzonych analiz dostarczają cennych wskazówek dla postępowania terapeutycznego.

Background. The aim was to examine body image among female Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOAs). Method. 43 female Adult Children of Alcoholics (average age: 26) had been chosen to participate in the study and they were examined with the Body Self Questionnaire by Mirucka. The control group consisted of 43 females (average age: 24.5) examined with an identical Questionnaire. Results. Analyses showed visible differences in body image between those females examined with ACOAs syndrome and those of the control group with respect to the acceptance of one’s body and experiencing intimacy. Two clusters have been displayed within the studied group, which point to non-homogenous body image experience among respondents. Conclusions. In comparison to the control group, respondents with ACA syndrome have an inferior body image. Among those examined with ACA syndrome, 40% females have distorted body image with regard to acceptance of one’s body, experience of intimate relations, disclosure of femininity and relation towards eating and body weight, experiencing physical intimacy. It is advisable to use self-experience through the body and body’s perception and its role in emotional self-regulation during therapeutic work with ACA females.