Date of Award

5-1999

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Health, Physical Education and Recreation

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if the leisure activities of anorexic and bulimic teenage girls differ from those of a control group and to determine the difference between the two groups in their commitment to exercise. Two surveys, the State Technical Institute's Leisure Assessment Process (STILAP) and the Commitment to Exercise Scale, were distributed to anorexic and bulimic teenage girls in an Omaha, Nebraska, treatment facility. The surveys were also given to a control group made up of teenage girls in two Omaha area high schools. Six girls participated in the anorexic and bulimic group and 18 participated in the control group. It is evident from this study that anorexic and bulimic teenage girls participate more in physical activities such as jogging, running, physical fitness, and biking than the control group. They, however, do not participate in social activities such as dancing and party going as much as the control group. The control group participated in more activities in the areas involving mental skills, emotional/mental stimulation, social situations, and leadership opportunities. Anorexic and bulimic teenage girls are more committed to exercise, miss less exercise sessions, will exercise more if they are injured or ill, and will even miss social opportunities in order to exercise. These findings suggest that a difference does occur in the leisure lifestyles of anorexic and bulimic teenage girls when compared to the lives of the control group. It also suggest that greater commitment to exercise is present in anorexic and bulimic girls lives.

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