Field-dependence factors in american indian and caucasian obesity

Abstract

Compared urban obese and non‐obese American Indians and Caucasians on the Group Embedded Figures Test (N = 160). Results indicated an apparent relationship between obesity and field‐dependence for Caucasians, but not for American Indians. American Indians were more field‐dependent than Caucasians overall, which implies a social conformity factor. These results suggest that psychological factors related to obesity vary across ethnic groups because of apparent cultural differences.

Unresolved Issues in Research on Field Dependence-Independence

“…The heuristic value of FDI is evident from the fact that it has been explored in such diverse domains as learning (Davis & Frank, 1979), problem solving (Neimark, 1975) career choice , obesity (Pine, 1984), political beliefs (Tetlock, 1984) and driving behaviour (Clement & Jonah, 1984). Unfortunately, although impressive in scope, research in field dependence-independence is marred by conceptual and methodological problems.…”

Anxiety and eating behavior in obese and nonobese American Indians and White Americans.

“…In considering the obesity and diabetes issues raised by West (1973, 1974, 1978) and Judkins (1978), it seems important to systematically explore the psychological aspects of obesity in American Indians, particularly in cases in which the psychological literature has not taken ethnic factors into account. Although such systematic psychological research on obesity has been limited with American Indians (Pine, 1983, 1984), there has been a number of studies dealing with personality-obesity relations in general.…”