Helena Lewis-Smith
Biographic Data
| ID | 326103 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Helena Lewis-Smith |
| GIVEN NAMES | Helena |
| FAMILY NAME | Lewis-Smith |
| SIGNATURE | LEWIS-SMITH H |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of the West of England |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-9000-8142 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 11 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 34 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 11 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2017 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 4 |
I Was Taught to Think of My Body as Too Sexual”: Comparative Thematic Analysis of Parent and Peer Messages About the Body During Adolescence
Parents and peers play an important role in adolescents’ body image and embodiment. Messages girls receive about sex and puberty during these formative years can contribute to either positive embodiment or disrupted/disconnected embodiment. To better understand how these messages are constructed in adolescence, we conducted a comparative thematic analysis of self-reported, retrospective accounts of messages conveyed by parents and peers. We admin…
Body Image as a Case Topic for Eliciting Sensitive Health Experiences in Men
Understanding the needs and experiences of men across many areas of health and well-being has been obstructed by an ongoing difficulty for researchers to sufficiently engage men in qualitative health research. To reach novel, broader insights and ideas in the field of health and social sciences, we reflect on our experiences as researchers in body image, a field historically focused on women, to offer strategies on engaging men in qualitative hea…
“Like putting on an old pair of gloves” or “realising i am actually over it”: A qualitative study exploring the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown restrictions on eating disorder recovery in the…
The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown restrictions posed unique challenges for people living with eating disorders (EDs), particularly relating to social isolation and changes in treatment access. However, less is known about the experience of lockdown for people ‘in recovery’ from EDs or disordered eating (DE) (i.e., with an ED/DE history). This study explored: (i) how people with a self-reported ED/DE history responded to and managed the experience of…
The Impact of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization on Young Women's Experiences of Objectification and Sexual Well-Being
The Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision overturned two previous rulings that had affirmed the constitutional right to abortion prior to fetal viability. While important work has been published about the legal, moral, professional, and economic ramifications of the Dobbs decision, missing on this topic are the voices of those most affected by these policies. We conducted an online survey to understand how the Dobbs ruling impacte…
“ I listen to my body now ”: A qualitative exploration of positive body image in breast cancer survivors
OBJECTIVE: Existing research has identified the high prevalence of body image concerns among female breast cancer survivors. However, it has neglected to explore the experience of positive body image among this group, despite its potential utility for intervention development. The present study therefore aimed to explore the experiences of breast cancer survivors who self-identified as experiencing a positive relationship with their post-treatmen…
Comics as a body image intervention among adolescents in Indian Hindi medium schools: Insights from an acceptability study
This study demonstrates acceptability of a novel teacher-led comics-based body image intervention for adolescents in Indian Hindi medium schools from lower socio-economic settings. These findings are currently informing intervention optimizations, which will be evaluated in a randomized controlled effectiveness trial. If found to be effective, this intervention will be disseminated across eight Indian states by UNICEF. Trial registration. This tr…
Game on! A randomised controlled trial evaluation of playable technology in improving body satisfaction and negative affect among adolescents
Playables are mini-games used in digital advertising and may offer a novel and engaging avenue to improve young people’s well-being at scale. This randomised controlled trial evaluated the immediate impact and protective properties of a psychoeducational playable on adolescents’ body satisfaction and negative affect, and engagement in prosocial behaviours, relative to two active control conditions. Girls and boys aged 13–14 years ( N = 6575) were…
Body dissatisfaction predicts the onset of depression among adolescent females and males: A prospective study
Rationale Body dissatisfaction is prevalent in mid-adolescence and may be associated with the onset of depression. Objective The study assessed the influence of body dissatisfaction on the occurrence of later depressive episodes in a population-based sample of British adolescents. Method Participants were 2078 females and 1675 males from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) cohort. Logistic regression was used to test if b…
Prospective Pathways to Depressive Symptoms and Disordered Eating in Adolescence: A 7-Year Longitudinal Cohort Study
Eating pathology and depressive symptoms increase during adolescence, yet predictive pathways remain predominantly unexplored, despite their implications for prevention. The present study aimed to identify shared risk factors for eating pathology and depressive symptoms by evaluating an adapted Dual-Pathway Model of disordered eating, which postulated that higher BMI would predict disordered eating and depressive symptoms via pathways between bod…
Adolescent body dissatisfaction and disordered eating: Predictors of later risky health behaviours
Consumer opinion on social policy approaches to promoting positive body image: Airbrushed media images and disclaimer labels
Disclaimer labels on airbrushed media images have generated political attention and advocacy as a social policy approach to promoting positive body image. Experimental research suggests that labelling is ineffective and consumers' viewpoints have been overlooked. A mixed-method study explored British consumers' ( N = 1555, aged 11-78 years) opinions on body image and social policy approaches. Thematic analysis indicated scepticism about the effec…
Consumer opinion on social policy approaches to promoting positive body image: Airbrushed media images and disclaimer labels
Disclaimer labels on airbrushed media images have generated political attention and advocacy as a social policy approach to promoting positive body image. Experimental research suggests that labelling is ineffective and consumers' viewpoints have been overlooked. A mixed-method study explored British consumers' ( N = 1555, aged 11-78 years) opinions on body image and social policy approaches. Thematic analysis indicated scepticism about the effec…
Adolescent body dissatisfaction and disordered eating: Predictors of later risky health behaviours
Body dissatisfaction predicts the onset of depression among adolescent females and males: A prospective study
Rationale Body dissatisfaction is prevalent in mid-adolescence and may be associated with the onset of depression. Objective The study assessed the influence of body dissatisfaction on the occurrence of later depressive episodes in a population-based sample of British adolescents. Method Participants were 2078 females and 1675 males from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) cohort. Logistic regression was used to test if b…
Prospective Pathways to Depressive Symptoms and Disordered Eating in Adolescence: A 7-Year Longitudinal Cohort Study
Eating pathology and depressive symptoms increase during adolescence, yet predictive pathways remain predominantly unexplored, despite their implications for prevention. The present study aimed to identify shared risk factors for eating pathology and depressive symptoms by evaluating an adapted Dual-Pathway Model of disordered eating, which postulated that higher BMI would predict disordered eating and depressive symptoms via pathways between bod…
Consumer opinion on social policy approaches to promoting positive body image: Airbrushed media images and disclaimer labels
Disclaimer labels on airbrushed media images have generated political attention and advocacy as a social policy approach to promoting positive body image. Experimental research suggests that labelling is ineffective and consumers' viewpoints have been overlooked. A mixed-method study explored British consumers' ( N = 1555, aged 11-78 years) opinions on body image and social policy approaches. Thematic analysis indicated scepticism about the effec…
Adolescent body dissatisfaction and disordered eating: Predictors of later risky health behaviours
Prospective Pathways to Depressive Symptoms and Disordered Eating in Adolescence: A 7-Year Longitudinal Cohort Study
Eating pathology and depressive symptoms increase during adolescence, yet predictive pathways remain predominantly unexplored, despite their implications for prevention. The present study aimed to identify shared risk factors for eating pathology and depressive symptoms by evaluating an adapted Dual-Pathway Model of disordered eating, which postulated that higher BMI would predict disordered eating and depressive symptoms via pathways between bod…
Game on! A randomised controlled trial evaluation of playable technology in improving body satisfaction and negative affect among adolescents
Playables are mini-games used in digital advertising and may offer a novel and engaging avenue to improve young people’s well-being at scale. This randomised controlled trial evaluated the immediate impact and protective properties of a psychoeducational playable on adolescents’ body satisfaction and negative affect, and engagement in prosocial behaviours, relative to two active control conditions. Girls and boys aged 13–14 years ( N = 6575) were…
Body dissatisfaction predicts the onset of depression among adolescent females and males: A prospective study
Rationale Body dissatisfaction is prevalent in mid-adolescence and may be associated with the onset of depression. Objective The study assessed the influence of body dissatisfaction on the occurrence of later depressive episodes in a population-based sample of British adolescents. Method Participants were 2078 females and 1675 males from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) cohort. Logistic regression was used to test if b…
Comics as a body image intervention among adolescents in Indian Hindi medium schools: Insights from an acceptability study
This study demonstrates acceptability of a novel teacher-led comics-based body image intervention for adolescents in Indian Hindi medium schools from lower socio-economic settings. These findings are currently informing intervention optimizations, which will be evaluated in a randomized controlled effectiveness trial. If found to be effective, this intervention will be disseminated across eight Indian states by UNICEF. Trial registration. This tr…
“ I listen to my body now ”: A qualitative exploration of positive body image in breast cancer survivors
OBJECTIVE: Existing research has identified the high prevalence of body image concerns among female breast cancer survivors. However, it has neglected to explore the experience of positive body image among this group, despite its potential utility for intervention development. The present study therefore aimed to explore the experiences of breast cancer survivors who self-identified as experiencing a positive relationship with their post-treatmen…
“Like putting on an old pair of gloves” or “realising i am actually over it”: A qualitative study exploring the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown restrictions on eating disorder recovery in the…
The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown restrictions posed unique challenges for people living with eating disorders (EDs), particularly relating to social isolation and changes in treatment access. However, less is known about the experience of lockdown for people ‘in recovery’ from EDs or disordered eating (DE) (i.e., with an ED/DE history). This study explored: (i) how people with a self-reported ED/DE history responded to and managed the experience of…
The Impact of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization on Young Women's Experiences of Objectification and Sexual Well-Being
The Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision overturned two previous rulings that had affirmed the constitutional right to abortion prior to fetal viability. While important work has been published about the legal, moral, professional, and economic ramifications of the Dobbs decision, missing on this topic are the voices of those most affected by these policies. We conducted an online survey to understand how the Dobbs ruling impacte…
I Was Taught to Think of My Body as Too Sexual”: Comparative Thematic Analysis of Parent and Peer Messages About the Body During Adolescence
Parents and peers play an important role in adolescents’ body image and embodiment. Messages girls receive about sex and puberty during these formative years can contribute to either positive embodiment or disrupted/disconnected embodiment. To better understand how these messages are constructed in adolescence, we conducted a comparative thematic analysis of self-reported, retrospective accounts of messages conveyed by parents and peers. We admin…
Body Image as a Case Topic for Eliciting Sensitive Health Experiences in Men
Understanding the needs and experiences of men across many areas of health and well-being has been obstructed by an ongoing difficulty for researchers to sufficiently engage men in qualitative health research. To reach novel, broader insights and ideas in the field of health and social sciences, we reflect on our experiences as researchers in body image, a field historically focused on women, to offer strategies on engaging men in qualitative hea…
Psychology (11 works) · Eating Disorders and Behaviors (10 works) · Medicine (6 works) · Qualitative research (6 works) · Sociology (6 works) · Clinical Psychology (5 works) · Psychiatry (5 works) · Obesity and Health Practices (4 works) · Psychological intervention (4 works) · Psychotherapist (4 works)