Munirah AlShebali1,2, Ahmad AlHadi3, Glenn Waller4. 1. Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, 3652 Bashir Street, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh, 11671, Saudi Arabia. munerahsh@gmail.com. 2. Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK. munerahsh@gmail.com. 3. SABIC Psychological Health Research and Applications Chair, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 4. Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
Abstract
PURPOSE: This study addressed the prevalence of eating disorders and levels of eating pathology, body image, and psychological comorbidities in undergraduate women in Saudi Arabia. It examined the role of the current internalization of western culture that is under way in that country, focusing on political and economic issues rather than on issues such as media exposure per se. METHOD: Participants were 503 Saudi female university students (mean age = 19.78 years). Each completed a diagnostic measure of eating disorders and measures of disordered eating attitudes and behaviours, body image, depression, social anxiety, and self-esteem. They also completed a measure of the internalization of western culture, specific to current political and cultural developments in Saudi Arabia. RESULTS: Eating disorder prevalence and pathology rates among undergraduates females were comparable to western levels, though the pattern was more one of bulimic than anorexic pathology. Internalization of western values was associated with eating pathology, body image, and psychological comorbidities. CONCLUSION: Eating disorders are not an exclusively western issue, as the levels in Saudi undergraduate women are similar to those in western cultures (though they tend more towards bulimic than anorexic presentations). Internalization of western values appears to be key to this pattern. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE : Level III, case-control analytic study.
PURPOSE: This study addressed the prevalence of eating disorders and levels of eating pathology, body image, and psychological comorbidities in undergraduate women in Saudi Arabia. It examined the role of the current internalization of western culture that is under way in that country, focusing on political and economic issues rather than on issues such as media exposure per se. METHOD: Participants were 503 Saudi female university students (mean age = 19.78 years). Each completed a diagnostic measure of eating disorders and measures of disordered eating attitudes and behaviours, body image, depression, social anxiety, and self-esteem. They also completed a measure of the internalization of western culture, specific to current political and cultural developments in Saudi Arabia. RESULTS: Eating disorder prevalence and pathology rates among undergraduates females were comparable to western levels, though the pattern was more one of bulimic than anorexic pathology. Internalization of western values was associated with eating pathology, body image, and psychological comorbidities. CONCLUSION: Eating disorders are not an exclusively western issue, as the levels in Saudi undergraduate women are similar to those in western cultures (though they tend more towards bulimic than anorexic presentations). Internalization of western values appears to be key to this pattern. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE : Level III, case-control analytic study.
Authors: Hans W Hoek; Peter N van Harten; Karin M E Hermans; Melanie A Katzman; Glenn E Matroos; Ezra S Susser Journal: Am J Psychiatry Date: 2005-04 Impact factor: 18.112
Authors: Omar A Alhaj; Feten Fekih-Romdhane; Dima H Sweidan; Zahra Saif; Mina F Khudhair; Hadeel Ghazzawi; Mohammed Sh Nadar; Saad S Alhajeri; Michael P Levine; Haitham Jahrami Journal: Eat Weight Disord Date: 2022-08-04 Impact factor: 3.008