Lauren H King1, Alexis D Abernethy2, Chris Keiper3, Anna Craycraft4. 1. , 5409 Maryland Way Suite 202, Brentwood, TN, 370272, USA. 2. Graduate School of Psychology, Fuller Theological Seminary, 180 N. Oakland Avenue, Pasadena, CA, 91101, USA. aabernet@fuller.edu. 3. Counseling and Psychological Services, Purdue University, 601 Stadium Mall Drive, Room 224, West Lafayette, IN, 47907-2052, USA. 4. Oklahoma City VA, 921 NE 13th Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The increased prevalence of body dissatisfaction and eating disordered behaviors (EDBs) among African American women warrants further examination of critical factors that may contribute to this recent trend. This study sought to investigate whether ethnic identification, spirituality, and internalization of the thin ideal would be associated with decreased body dissatisfaction and EDBs. METHOD: A convenience sample of 55 African American college women was recruited from a college campus. The Eating Attitudes Test, Eating Disorders Inventory, Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure, Sociocultural Attitudes toward Appearance Questionnaire, Life Regard Index-R, and Spiritual Transcendence Index were administered. RESULTS: Body dissatisfaction and internalization of the thin ideal were positively associated with EDBs. Higher scores on meaning in life were negatively associated with body dissatisfaction. Spiritual transcendence and internalization of the thin ideal were positively associated with body dissatisfaction. Spiritual transcendence was positively associated with meaning in life. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the importance of exploring spirituality and ethnic identification in efforts to understand the relationships among the internalization of a thin ideal, body dissatisfaction, and EDBs in African American women. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, Evidence obtained from a cross-sectional descriptive study.
PURPOSE: The increased prevalence of body dissatisfaction and eating disordered behaviors (EDBs) among African American women warrants further examination of critical factors that may contribute to this recent trend. This study sought to investigate whether ethnic identification, spirituality, and internalization of the thin ideal would be associated with decreased body dissatisfaction and EDBs. METHOD: A convenience sample of 55 African American college women was recruited from a college campus. The Eating Attitudes Test, Eating Disorders Inventory, Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure, Sociocultural Attitudes toward Appearance Questionnaire, Life Regard Index-R, and Spiritual Transcendence Index were administered. RESULTS: Body dissatisfaction and internalization of the thin ideal were positively associated with EDBs. Higher scores on meaning in life were negatively associated with body dissatisfaction. Spiritual transcendence and internalization of the thin ideal were positively associated with body dissatisfaction. Spiritual transcendence was positively associated with meaning in life. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the importance of exploring spirituality and ethnic identification in efforts to understand the relationships among the internalization of a thin ideal, body dissatisfaction, and EDBs in African American women. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, Evidence obtained from a cross-sectional descriptive study.
Entities:
Keywords:
Body dissatisfaction; Eating disorders; Ethnicity; Internalization of the thin ideal; Spirituality
Authors: Jana G Atlas; Gregory T Smith; Leigh Anne Hohlstein; Denis M McCarthy; Larry S Kroll Journal: Int J Eat Disord Date: 2002-11 Impact factor: 4.861
Authors: Cortney S Warren; David H Gleaves; Antonio Cepeda-Benito; Maria del Carmen Fernandez; Sonia Rodriguez-Ruiz Journal: Int J Eat Disord Date: 2005-04 Impact factor: 4.861