Research Interests
Women’s health and mental health; body image development, embodiment, the relationship between body and culture, eating disorders, addictions, self harm, embodied agency and self care; trauma; immigration; feminist-informed and critical multicultural counselling and health promotion.
Courses
AEC3217 Practicum in Counselling Psychology
AEC 3258 Body and Culture
AEC3211 Counselling and Researching in Context: Critical Perspectives on Counselling and Health Promotion Research
AEC1208 The Counselling Relationship
Awards
2009 Florence Denmark Distinguished Mentorship Award, Association for Women in Psychology (U.S.)
2006 The Lori Irving Award for Research Excellence in Eating Disorders Prevention and Awareness, National (American) Eating Disorder Association, Seattle
2004 Awarded: Academy of Eating Disorders Fellowship
2003 Feminist Mentorship Award (Inaugural Recipient), Section on Women and Psychology (SWAP) of the Canadian Psychological Association
2003 Founding Member, North American Eating Disorder Association, Seattle
Large Scale Research Grants (a selection)
Year Grantor Title
2011-2014 SSHRC ‘Women’s Embodiment at the Intersection of Psychology and Social Critical Theory’ (Principal Investigator)
2007-2010 SSHRC 'The Body Journey of Girls' (Principal Investigator)
2005-2006 Royal Bank 'The co-morbidity of eating disorders' (Co-principal investigator with Dr. Tahany Gadalla)
2003 - 2006 SSHRC 'Powerful girls and women: A contradiction in terms?' (Principal Investigator)
2001- 2004 OWHC 'Outcome evaluation of the Brief Psychotherapy Center for Women' (Co-Investigator)
1999-2003 SSHRC 'Eating disorders at the intersection of body and culture' (Principal Investigator)
1999-2001 Kellogg Canada ' Women self-care and body image' (Co-Principal Investigator with Dr. Heather Maclean)
Books
McVey, G., Levine, M.P., Piran, N., & Ferguson, H.B. (in press/upcoming January 2012). Improving the Prevention of Eating Disorders: Collaborative Research, Advocacy, and Policy Change. Waterloo ON: Wilfred Laurier Press.
Piran, N., Levine, M., & Steiner-Adair, C. (1999). Preventing eating disorders : A handbook of
intervention and special challenges. Philadelphia: Brunner/Mazel (Taylor & Francis Group).
Piran, N., & Kaplan, A. (Eds.). (1990). A day hospital group treatment program for anorexia
nervosa and bulimia nervosa. New York: Brunner/Mazel.
Journal Publications: Special Issues
Piran, N., & Moodley, R. (2008). Special Issue: Minding the Body in Health Promotion. International Journal for Health Promotion and Education, 46 (2), (pp. 40-80).
Moodley, R., & Piran, N. (2008). Special Issue: Dialogue with the Body in Clinical Practice. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 21 (2) (pp. 103-195).
Piran, N. (2000). The influence of media on body image. Special Issue of the “Healthy Weight Journal.” New York: BC Decker.
Piran, N., & Levine, M. (Eds.). (1996). Prevention of eating disorders. Special Issue of the
"Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention." New York: Brunner/Mazel.
Book Chapters
Piran, N., & Mafrici, N. (2011). Ecological and activism approaches to prevention. In T. Cash & L. Smolak. Body Image: A Handbook of Theory, Research, and Clinical practice.(451-459) NY: Guilford Press.
Piran, N., & Mafrici, N. (in press). Preventing body image problems: Ecological and activism approaches. In L. Smolak (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Body Image and Human Appearance. Elsevier Press.
Piran, N., & Teall, T. (in press/January 2012). The Developmental Theory of Embodiment. In G. McVey, M.P. Levine, N. Piran, & H.B. Ferguson, Improving the Prevention of Eating Disorders: Collaborative Research, Advocacy, and Policy Change. Waterloo ON: Wilfred Laurier Press.
Smolak, L., & Piran, N. (in press/January 2012). Gender and the Prevention of Eating Disorders. In G.McVey, M.P. Levine, N. Piran, & H.B. Ferguson, Improving the Prevention of Eating Disorders: Collaborative Research, Advocacy, and Policy Change. Waterloo ON: Wilfred Laurier Press.
McLaren, L., & Piran, N. (in press/January 2012). Prevention of eating disorders through structural
change: the population health framework and lessons from case studies in intensive community-based intervention. In G. McVey, M.P. Levine, N. Piran, & H.B. Ferguson, Improving the Prevention of Eating Disorders: Collaborative Research, Advocacy, and Policy Change.
Waterloo ON: Wilfred Laurier Press.
Piran, N. (2010). Social critical theory, embodiment and counseling. In Building Bridges for
Wellness in Counselling and Psychotherapy (pp. 77-89). Published by the Center for Diversity in Counselling and Psychotherapy Sampura-Montfort (Bangalor) and the Center for Diversity in Counselling Ontario Institute of Studies in Education of the University of Toronto.
Nagasawa, S., Piran, N., & Legge, R. (in press). Physical freedom and the body journey of diverse girls. In Building Bridges for Wellness Through Counselling and Psychotherapy. Produced by Sampura-Montfort College, Center for Diversity in Counselling, and Bangalore University, Bangalore, India.
Legge, R., Piran, N., & Nagasawa, S. (in press). The social construction of femininity and the body journey of diverse girls. In Building Bridges for Wellness Through Counselling and Psychotherapy. Produced by Sampura-Montfort College, Center for Diversity in Counselling, and Bangalore University, Bangalore, India.
Pinhas, N., & Piran, N. (2008). Eating disorder in Children. In L. Beal (Ed.), The ABCs of Mental Health: School Policy, Mental Health Services in Schools. Teachers Resource Project. Published by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services.
http://www.hincksdellcrest.org/teacher-resource-project.html
Piran, N., Antoniou, M., Legge, R., McCance, N., Mizevich, J., Peasley, E., & Ross, E. (2006). On girls’ disembodiment: The complex tyranny of the ‘ideal girl’. In D.L. Gustafson & L. Goodyear (Eds.), Women, health, and education: CASWE 6th bi-annual international institute proceedingsSt. John’s, NL: Memorial University [ISBN 0-0780928] (pp. 224-229)-. Available at
http://www.med.mun.ca/comhealth/CASWE/pdf_docs/Proceedings_july22-06_diana.pdf
(www.csse.ca/CASWE/Institute/Institute.htm).
Levine, M.P., & Piran, N. (2005). Treatment and prevention of eating disorders in adolescence.
Handbook of Dysfunctional Behavior in Adolescence: Theory, Practice, and Prevention
(pp. 235-252). Kluwer/Academic Publishing.
Piran, N., & Ross, E. (2005). The transition from girlhood to womanhood. In J. Worell & C.
Goodhart (Eds.), Handbook of girls' and women's psychological health (pp. 178-195). London: Oxford Press.
Piran, N. (2005). On buffering and accentuating pressures: The role of the teacher in the prevention of eating disorders. In R. Solomon, J. Solomon, & Minton, S.C. (Eds.), Preventing dance injuries (pp.201-210). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Levine, M.P., & Piran, N. (2005). Treatment and prevention of eating disorders in adolescence.
Handbook of Dysfunctional Behavior in Adolescence: Theory, Practice, and Prevention (235-252). Kluwer/Academic Publishing.
Piran, N., Jasper, K., & Pinhas, L., (2004). Feminist therapy of eating disorders. In J.K. Thompson (Ed.), Handbook of eating disorders and obesity (pp. 263-278). New York: Wiley.
Piran, N. (2003). A spectrum of costs. In M. Maj, K. Halmi, J. J. López-Ibor, & N. Sartorius
(Eds.), Eating disorders: Evidence & experience in psychiatry (volume 6, pp. 397-400,
World Psychiatric Association). Chichester, England: Wiley.
Levine, M. P., Piran, N., & Irving, L. M. (2003). Disordered eating behavior, adolescence. In T.
P. Gullotta & M. Bloom (Eds.), Encyclopedia of primary prevention (pp. 422-428). New York: Kluwer.
Irving, L., M., Levine, M. P., & Piran, N. (2003). Disordered eating behavior, adulthood. In T. P.
Gullotta & M. Bloom (Eds.), Encyclopedia of primary prevention (pp. 428-435). New York: Kluwer.
Piran, N. (2002). Embodiment: A mosaic of inquiries in the area of body weight and shape
preoccupation. In S. Abbey (Ed.), Ways of knowing in and through the body: Divers perspectives on embodiment (211-214). Welland, Ontario: Soleil Publishing.
Piran, N., Carter, W., Thompson, S., & Pajouhandeh, P. (2002). Powerful girls: A contradiction in terms? Young women speak about the experience of growing up in a girl’s body. In S. Abbey (Ed.), Ways of knowing in and through the body: Diverse perspectives on embodiment (206-210). Welland, Ontario: Soleil Publishing.
Piran, N. (2002). Prevention of eating disorders. In C. G. Fairburn & K. D. Brownell (Eds.),
Eating disorders and obesity: A comprehensive handbook (2nd ed.) (pp. 367-371). New York: Guildford Press.
Nissinen, M., Piran, N., Rea, K., & Woodman, M. (2001). The dance of perfection. In P. Bronkhorst, Rijven, M., Roes, A., Sirman, R., Staines, M., & Wuersten, S. (Eds.), Not just any body: Advancing health, well-being, and excellence in dance and dancers (pp. 121-137). Owen Sound, Ontario: Ginger Press.
Piran, N. (2001). From the embodiment of struggle to changing discourses and social
transformation. In M. Katzman, R. Gordon, & M. Nasser (Eds.), Eating disorders in cultural transitions (pp. 163-167). New York: Guilford Press.
Piran, N. (2001). A gendered perspective on eating disorders and disordered eating. In J. Worell (Ed.), Encyclopedia of gender (pp. 369-378). San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
Levine, M., & Piran, N. (2001). The prevention of eating disorders: Towards a participatory
ecology of knowledge, action, and advocacy. In R. Striegel-Moore & L. Smolak, Eating disorders: New directions for research and practice (pp. 233-254). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Piran, N. (2001). Re-inhabiting the body from the inside out: Girls transform their school
environment. In D. L. Tolman & M. Brydon-Miller (Eds.), From subjects to subjectivities: A handbook of interpretive and participatory methods (pp. 218-238). New York: New York University Press.
Piran, N. (1999). The reduction of preoccupation with body weight and shape in schools: A
feminist approach. In N. Piran, M. P. Levine & C. Steiner-Adair (Eds.), Preventing eating disorders: A handbook of interventions and special challenges (pp. 148-150). Philadelphia: Brunner/Mazel (Taylor & Francis Group).
Piran, N. (1999). On the move from tertiary to secondary and primary prevention: Working with an elite dance school. In N. Piran, M. P. Levine & C. Steiner-Adair (Eds.), Preventing eating disorders: A handbook of interventions and special challenges (pp. 256-269). Philadelphia: Brunner/Mazel (Taylor & Francis Group).
Levine, M., & Piran, N., & Stoddard, C. (1999). Mission more probable: Media literacy, activism, and advocacy as primary prevention. In N. Piran, M. P. Levine & C. Steiner-Adair (Eds.), Preventing eating disorders: A handbook of interventions and special challenges (pp. 1-25). Philadelphia: Brunner/Mazel (Taylor & Francis Group).
Piran, N., Levine, M. P., & Steiner-Adair, C. (1999). Introduction. In N. Piran, M. P. Levine, &
C. Steiner-Adair (Eds.), Preventing eating disorders: A handbook of interventions and
special challenges (pp. xvii-xxii). Philadelphia: Brunner/Mazel (Taylor & Francis Group).
Levine, M. P., & Piran, N. (1999). Reflections, conclusions, and future directions. In N. Piran,
M. P. Levine, & C. Steiner-Adair (Eds.), Preventing eating disorders: A handbook of interventions and special challenges (pp. 319-329). Philadelphia: Brunner/Mazel (Taylor
& Francis Group).
Piran, N. (1998). A participatory approach to the prevention of eating disorders in a school. In
W. Vandereycken & G. Noordenbos (Eds.), The prevention of eating disorders (pp. 166-
179). London: Athlone Press/New York: New York University Press.
Stermac, L., Piran, N., & Sheridan, P.M. (1996). Sexual abuse, eating disorders, and prevention: Political and social realities. In M.F. Schwartz & L. Cohn (Eds.), Sexual abuse and eating disorders. New York: Brunner/Mazel.
Piran, N. (1993). Working with eating-disorder clients in institutions. In C. Brown & K. Jasper (Eds.), Consuming passions: Feminist approaches to weight preoccupation and eating disorders (pp. 351-360). Toronto: Second Story Press.
Piran, N. (1993). Countertransference experiences. In C. Brown & K. Jasper (Eds.), Consuming passions: Feminist approaches to weight preoccupation and eating disorders (pp.161-175). Toronto: Second Story Press.
Piran, N., Bear, M., & Jasper, K. (1993). Prevention of eating disorders. In S. Kennedy (Ed.),
Handbook of the treatment of eating disorders (pp. 55-65). University of Toronto Press.
Piran, N. (1989). Overview of a day hospital program for eating disorder patients. In N. Piran & Kaplan (Eds.), A day hospital group treatment program for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. New York: Brunner/Mazel.
Piran, N., Langdon, L., Kaplan, A., & Garfinkel, P. (1989). Outcome evaluation of the day
hospital program. In N. Piran & A. Kaplan (Eds.), A day hospital group treatment program for Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. New York: Brunner/Mazel.
Kerr, A., & Piran, N. (1989). Comprehensive group treatment program. In N. Piran & A. Kaplan
(Eds.), A day hospital group treatment program for eating disorder patients. New York: Brunner/Mazel
Piran, N. (1988). Borderline phenomena in anorexia and bulimia. In P. Lerner & H. Lerner
(Eds.), Primitive mental states and the Rorschach. New York: International Universities Press.
Piran, N., & Lerner, P. (1988). Rorschach assessment of eating disorders. In C. Spielberger &
J.N. Butcher (Eds.), Advances in personality assessment (pp. 77-101). Hillsdale, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Articles in Refereed Journals
Piran, N., & Robinson, S. (2011). Patterns of association between eating disordered behaviors and substance use in two non-clinical samples: A university and a community based sample. Journal of Health Psychology, 16 (7), 1027-1037.
Medved, M., & Piran, N. (2011). Psychological distress and self-care engagement: Healing after a Cardiac Intervention. Women & Health, 51 (2), 89-105.
Piran, N. (2010). A feminist perspective on risk factor research and on the prevention of eating
disorders. Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention, 18 (3), 183-198.
Piran, N. (2009). The Power of the Image: The Internalization of Cultural Symbols (El
poder de la imagen: interiorización de los símbolos cultural). Journal Aula de Innovación
Educativa (Spain), 178, 19-24.
Piran, N. (2009). Challenges and advances in the treatment and prevention of eating disorders in adolescence. Baltic Journal of Psychology, 9 (1,2), 149-158.
Piran, N., & Teall, T. (in press). The developmental theory of embodiment at the intersection of psychology and social-critical theory. Baltic Journal of Psychology.
Gadalla, T.M. & Piran, N. (2009). Eating disorders, substance use disorders and major depression in the Canadian population. Journal of Mental Health, 18 (6), 486-494.
Piran, N., & Thompson, S. (2008). A study of the Adverse Social Experiences model to the development of eating disorders. International Journal of Health Promotion and Education, 46 (2), 65-71.
Gadalla, T.M., & Piran, N. (2008). Psychiatric comorbidity in women with disordered eating behavior: A national study. Women & Health, 48 (4), 467-484.
Gadalla T.M. & Piran N. (2007). Co-occurrence of Eating Disorders and Alcohol Use Disorders in Women: A Meta Analysis. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 10 (4), 133-140.
Piran, N., Robinson, S.R., Cormier, H.C. (2007). Disordered Eating Behaviors and Substance
use in Women: A Comparison of Perceived Adverse Consequences. Eating Disorders:
The Journal of Treatment and Prevention, 15, 391-403.
Gadalla, T.M., & Piran, N. (2007). Eating Disorders and Substance Abuse in Canadian men and women: A National Study. Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention, 15, 189-203.
Piran, N., & Gadalla, G. (2006). Eating Disorders and Substance Abuse in Canadian women: A National Study. Addiction, 102, 105-113.
Piran, N., & Robinson, S. (2006). The Association between Disordered Eating and Substance Use and Abuse in Women: A Community-based Investigation. Women & Health, 44, 1-20.
Piran, N., & Robinson, S. (2006). Associations between Disordered Eating Behaviors and Licit and Illicit Substance Use and Abuse in a University Sample. Addictive Behaviors, 31, 1761–1775. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2005.12.021
Neumark-Sztainer, D., Levine, M.P., Paxton, S.J., Smolak, L., Piran, N., Wertheim, E. (2006). Prevention of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating: What next? Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention, 14 (4), 265-285.
Piran, N., & Cormier, H. (2005). The Social Construction of Women and Disordered Eating Patterns. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52 (4), 549-558.
Piran, N. (2005). Prevention of eating disorders: A review of research. Israeli Journal of Psychiatry, 42 (3), 172-178.
Levine, M., & Piran, N. (2004). The role of body image interventions in the prevention of eating
disorders. Body Image Journal, 1, 57-70.
Piran, N. (2004). Teachers: On ‘being’ prevention. Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment
and Prevention, 12, 1-9.
Chiovitti, R. & Piran, N. (2003). Rigor and grounded theory research. Journal of Advanced
Nursing, 4, 427-435.
Piran, N. (2001). The body logic program: Discussion and reflections. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 8, 259-264.
Piran, N. (2001). Re-inhabiting the body. Feminism & Psychology, 11(2), 171-175.
Sarita, P., Piran, N., & Maddocks, S. E. (2000). Sexual victimization and clinical challenges in
women receiving hospital treatment in depression. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health, 19, 161-174.
Piran, N. (2000). Eating disorders: A trial of prevention in a high risk school setting. Journal of
Primary Prevention, 20(1), 75-90.
Piran, N. (1999). Prevention of eating disorders: The struggle to chart new territories. Eating
Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention, 6, 365-371.
Anderson, A., & Piran, N. (1999). Health promoting schools. The Canadian Association for
Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Journal, 65(1), 10-15.
Piran, N. (1997). Prevention of eating disorders: Directions for future research. Psychopharmacology Bulletin, 33(3), 419-423.
Sahay, S., & Piran, N. (1997). Skin-color preferences and body satisfaction among South Asian-Canadian and European-Canadian female university students. The Journal of Social Psychology, 137(2), 161-171.
Piran, N. (1996). The reduction of preoccupation with body weight and shape in schools: A
feminist approach. In N. Piran & M. Levine, Prevention of Eating Disorders, Special Issue of the Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention, 4(4), 323-347.
Piran, N. (1995). Prevention: Can early lessons lead to a delineation of an alternative model? A critical look at prevention with school children. Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention, 3 (1), 28-36.
Wong, O.C., & Piran, N. (1995). Implications of frequently held assumptions of Western counselling theory and practice to counselling Chinese clients. Canadian Journal of Counselling, 29(2), 107-120.
Correia, F., & Piran, N. (1994). Self-help: Maintaining the status quo. Canadian Woman Studies, 14(3), 87-92.
Piran, N. (1993). Let's put treatment and prevention of eating disorders on an equal footing: The effect of prejudices, social structure, and social mores. Eating Disorders: The Journal of
Treatment and Prevention, 1(2), 105-108.
Stermac, L., Piran, N., & Sheridan, P.M. (1993). Sexual abuse, eating disorders, and prevention: Political and social realities. Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention, 1(3), 250-258.
Maddocks, S., Kaplan, A.S., Woodside, D.B., Langdon, L., Piran, N. (1992). Two-year follow-up of bulimia nervosa: The importance of abstinence as the criterion of outcome. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 12(2), 133-141.
Piran, N., Kaplan, A., Kerr, A., et al. (1989). A day hospital group treatment program for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 8(5), 511-521.
Piran, N., Langdon, L., Kaplan, A. & Garfinkel, P.E. (1989). Evaluation of a day hospital program for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 8(5), 523-532.
Piran, N., Kennedy, S., Garfinkel, P.E., & Whynot, C. (1988). Eating disorders, affective illness and borderline personality disorder. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 49, 125.
Kennedy, S., Piran, N., Warsh, J.J., Prendergast, P., Main-Prize, E., Whynot, C., & Garfinkel, P. (1988). A trial of monoamine oxidase inhibitor in the treatment of bulimia. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 8(6), 391-396.
Piran, N., Lerner, P., Garfinkel, P.E., Kennedy, S., & Brouillettee, C. (1988). Personality disorders in restricting and bulimic forms of anorexia nervosa. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 7(5), 589-600.
Kennedy, S., Piran, N. , & Garfinkel, P.E. (1986). Letter to the Editor. Isocarboxacid in the treatment of bulimia. American Journal of Psychiatry, 143(11), 1495-1496.
Piran, N., Kennedy, S., Garfinkel, P.E., & Owens, M. (1985). Anorexia nervosa, bulimia and affective disorder. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 173(7), 395-400.
Kennedy, S., Piran, N., & Garfinkel, P.E. (1985). Monoamine oxidase inhibitor therapy for anorexia nervosa and bulimia -- a preliminary trial of isocarboxazid. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 5(5), 279-285.
Piran, N., Bigler, E.D., & Cohen, D. (1982). Motoric laterality and eye dominance suggest a unique pattern of cerebral organization in schizophrenia. Archives of General Psychiatry, 39, 1006-1016.
Bigler, E.D., Tucker, D., & Piran, N. (1979). Neuropsychological differentiation in a psychiatric late adolescent -- young adult population. Preliminary report. Clinical Neuropsychology, 1(2), 9-14.
Stores, G., Hart, J., & Piran, N. (1978). Inattentiveness in school children with epilepsy. Epilepsia, 19(2), 169-175.
Stores, G., & Piran, N. (1978). Dependency of different types of school children with epilepsy.
Psychological Medicine, 8(3), 441-445.
About Niva Piran
Dr Piran is a Professor at the Department of Adult Education and Counselling Psychology of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto. She is also a clinical psychologist and school consultant in the area of body image development. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Eating Disorders and the Prevention Editor of the Eating Disorder Journal. Dr. Piran is internationally recognized for her innovative work in the prevention and treatment of eating disorders and her research in the area of body image development, embodiment, and women’s health. Her multiple publications include three co-edited books on the prevention and treatment of eating disorders and over one hundred other publications including book chapters, journal manuscripts and other publications. She has presented widely around the globe. Dr. Piran is a recipient of various awards, including two awards for her mentorship and supervision work with students.
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