Ethnicity as a Risk Factor for Eating Disorders

Wildes, Jennifer E.; Forbush, Kelsie T.

doi:10.1002/9781118574089.ch25

Cited by 9 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 62 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Furthermore, compared to White girls, Black girls had significantly decreased likelihood of being in the increasing dieting and total eating disorder symptom score trajectories. This finding is consistent with some research showing higher prevalence of dieting and anorexia nervosa in White compared to Black women (Wildes & Forbush, 2015) and is in line with sociocultural theories related to restricting-type eating behavior and drive for thinness. Cultural messages regarding thinness may be most salient to young White girls, given noted cultural differences in ideals of beauty.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…There has been great interest in the role of race as a putative risk factor for eating disorder psychopathology (Wildes & Forbush, 2015). Sociocultural theories of eating disorders posit that racial differences in cultural beauty ideals and internalization of these ideals may increase risk for eating disorder symptoms and disorders in White girls and women (Shaw, Ramirez, Trost, Randall, & Stice, 2004).…”

Section: Associations Between Race and Eating Disorder Symptom Trajecmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In sum, studies examining disordered eating trajectories among both White and Black girls followed across a broader developmental spectrum are needed to elucidate the complex relationship between race and eating disorder development (Wildes & Forbush, 2015). Accordingly, the aims of the current study were to assess trajectories of eating disorder symptoms in a diverse, community-based sample of young girls and to examine associations between race and trajectory group membership.…”

Section: Associations Between Race and Eating Disorder Symptom Trajecmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Associations between Race and Eating Disorder Symptom Trajectories in Black and White Girls

Bodell

Wildes

Cheng

et al. 2017

J Abnorm Child Psychol

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Epidemiological research suggests racial differences in the presentation of eating disorder symptoms. However, no studies have examined associations between race and eating disorder symptom trajectories across youth and adolescence, which is necessary to inform culturally sensitive prevention programs. The purpose of the current study was to examine the trajectories of eating disorder symptoms from childhood to young adulthood and to examine whether race was associated with trajectory group membership. Data were drawn from 2,305 Black and White girls who participated in a community-based longitudinal cohort study (Pittsburgh Girls Study) examining the development of psychopathology. The child and adult versions of the Eating Attitudes Test assessed self-reported eating disorder symptoms at six time points between ages 9 and 21 years. Growth mixture modeling was used to examine developmental trajectories of dieting, bulimia/food preoccupation, and total eating disorder symptom scores. Given potential confounds with race and disordered eating, financial strain (i.e., receiving public assistance) and weight were included as covariates. Four to six distinct developmental patterns were found across eating disorder symptoms, including none, increasing, decreasing, or increasing-decreasing trajectories. Black girls had a greater likelihood of being in the decreasing trajectories for dieting, bulimia/food preoccupation, and total eating disorder symptom scores. White girls were more likely to follow increasing trajectories of dieting and total eating disorder symptom scores compared to Black girls. These results highlight the importance of examining the influence of racial background on eating disorder symptoms and the potential need for differences in the timing and focus of prevention interventions in these groups.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Associations Between Race and Eating Disorder Symptom Trajecmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Associations Between Race and Eating Disorder Symptom Trajecmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Associations between Race and Eating Disorder Symptom Trajectories in Black and White Girls

Bodell

Wildes

Cheng

et al. 2017

J Abnorm Child Psychol

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Early eating disorder research investigating the role of ethnicity proposed that White women are at increased risk compared with ethnic minorities. However, more recent studies show this may not be the case, although findings are inconsistent (Wildes & Forbush, 2015). …”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethnic differences in eating disorder prevalence, risk factors, and predictive effects of risk factors among young women

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Findings regarding ethnic differences in eating disorder diagnoses and risk factors have been mixed. This study evaluated whether there are ethnic differences in eating disorder prevalence, risk factors, and the predictive relations of the risk factors to future eating disorder onset. We used a large sample of young women followed longitudinally over three years to increase sensitivity to detect differences and to provide the first test of ethnic differences in the relation of risk factors to future onset of eating disorders. Females with body image concerns (N = 1,177) were recruited from high schools and colleges for trials of a body acceptance eating disorder prevention program. They completed surveys and interviews at baseline and at 1-, 6-, 12-, 24-, and 36-month follow-up. Significant differences between ethnic groups were found for two of the 13 baseline risk factors: thin-ideal internalization and body mass index. No significant differences in later onset rates among ethnic groups were found. There were also no reliable ethnic differences in the relation of risk factors for future eating disorder onset. These findings suggest that eating disorders affect ethnic minorities as much as Whites and that there are more overlapping risk factors shared among various ethnic groups than differences.

show abstract

“…Past ED research has focused primarily on White females; however, more recent reviews of epidemiological and community studies suggest that women of color have equal, if not greater, risks for EDs (Wildes & Forbush, 2015). Some studies have suggested that Asian Americans have a comparable (Franko et al, 2007) or increased likelihood of engaging in disordered eating than Whites and other racial/ethnic minority groups (Cheng et al, 2017; Rodgers et al, 2017; Tsong & Smart, 2015).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

To seek help or not: Asian American women mental health services utilization for disordered eating and body image concerns.

Tsong¹,

Ward²,

Dilley³

et al. 2023

Asian American Journal of Psychology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Eating disorders are a significant public health issue because of their potentially devastating medical and psychological consequences. Asian Americans tend not to utilize mental health services; thus, this qualitative study explored the factors contributing to Asian American women's decisions to seek professional help for their disordered eating or body image concerns. We utilized grounded theory to allow meaning to emerge from the raw data and the Consensual Qualitative Research-Modified method for triangulation and trustworthiness with a team consensus approach. One hundred forty-three Asian American women aged 18-39 years with disordered eating or body image concerns responded to two open-ended questions in an online survey about their decisions to seek (or not seek) mental health services. Results revealed personal-, social-, structural-level barriers and two multilevel barriers-disordered eating literacy and stigma. Factors that facilitated mental health services utilization included family and social support, free counseling, and knowledge of adverse health impacts. Participants also engaged in alternative methods to manage their concerns, most notably trying to solve or manage the issues on their own. We conclude by discussing clinical implications. What is the public significance of this article?This study identified barriers and facilitators to Asian American women's decisions to seek mental health services for disordered eating or body image concerns. In addition to structural barriers such as financial resources and access to services, a significant barrier is disordered eating literacy (i.e., knowledge about symptoms and resources/treatments available), which may also contribute to stigma. Instead of professional help, many tried to solve the issue on their own. Free counseling, family and social support, and knowledge of the adverse health impacts of disordered eating were facilitators of mental health service utilization.

show abstract

Ethnicity as a Risk Factor for Eating Disorders

Cited by 9 publications

References 62 publications

Associations between Race and Eating Disorder Symptom Trajectories in Black and White Girls

Associations between Race and Eating Disorder Symptom Trajectories in Black and White Girls

Ethnic differences in eating disorder prevalence, risk factors, and predictive effects of risk factors among young women

To seek help or not: Asian American women mental health services utilization for disordered eating and body image concerns.

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About