Episode 5: Body image research and diversity
Content warning: This episode contains the mention of eating disorders.
In this new episode, we invited Dr. Jessica Alleva who is a Body Image researcher from Canada. Jessica is an assistant Prof. at the Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience and Visiting Research Fellow at the Centre for Appearance Research in the UK. Her research mission is to improve the way people think and feel about their own body and focus on understanding how negative body image is caused and how the body image can be improved. At Maastricht University, she is also the coordinator of Mind Your Body, a course in the Bachelor of Psychology concerning body image research. In addition, Jessica is an associate editor for the journal “Body Image: An International Journal of Research''. Besides her research work she writes a column for the university newspaper observant and she is mother of a little son. (Jessica's Column in the Observant)
Introductions and academic background
Jessica shared her hobbies with us, such as watercolour painting, Yoga (with Adrienne), playing Nintendo and that she will soon learn to drive a car. Jessica started her studies in Canada at the University of Western Ontario and then continued her bachelor's at the Roosevelt Academy in Middelburg, the Netherlands. Afterwards she came to Maastricht, where she started a research master in Psychopathology and discovered her passion for research. Then, she did her PhD on body image improvement and a 1.5. year postdoc at the Center for Appearance Research in the UK. Then Jessica came back to UM and now works as an assistant professor at FPN.
The experience of childbirth and pregnancy
- Infertility, caesarean birth or not being able to breastfeed can lead to an enormous disappointment for women
- On the other hand the experience of pregnancy and childbirth is for many women a reason to view their body (functionality) in a different light
- Importance of showing that love for kids, loved ones etc does not depend on looks
- Topic of body image integrated in teaching and being a role model for students, making an impact in the role of the teacher
Her Research
- Jessica speaks about the concept of body functionality, body image on lower self-esteem, developing eating disorders
- She shares her personal story of her own eating disorder and in relation to body image research and eating.
- She gives some insights in her ongoing study that is very dear to her heart “Against the odds: Resilience to negative body image and the development of positive body image among women who perceive their body to deviate from societal norms (such as disabilities)”.
Her role as a mother changed her life and work
- Work life balance, boundaries, not stressing out about small things
- Finding what you value most
- Greater appreciation for her body during and after the pregnancy
- Pressure in society on women before and after pregnancy
- Body image studies in pregnancy and how this changes after giving birth
Her observant column on her own eating disorder
- Jessica shared it via social media and email with her colleagues
- Majority of people were positively impacted and inspired
- She noticed that there is still stigma around the topic of eating disorders.
General advice for young people, who aspire to pursue an academic career
- Find your passion and what you want to do
- Remember why you are in academia
- Connect yourself with likeminded people and role models
- Protect your time outside of work
- Don`t lose yourself
- More respect and acceptance and love for everybody
Practical advice on how to improve your body image
- Body functionality allows you to e.g. draw
- Surround yourself with positive people
- Curate your social media
- Learn about it from an academic and scientific point of view
- Mind your body blog on “Psychology Today”, Twitter/LinkedIn Jessica Alleva
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