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Body image and eating disturbance among south Asian‐American women: The role of racial teasing
Author(s) -
Sahi Iyer Dana,
Haslam Nick
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/eat.10170
Subject(s) - ethnic group , acculturation , psychology , distress , psychological distress , asian americans , eating disorders , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , mental health , psychiatry , sociology , anthropology
Objective Acculturation and loss of ethnic identification have been proposed as risk factors for eating and body image disturbance among women of color. This study investigated whether being teased about racial or ethnic features might also play a role in these disturbances in minority women. Methods One hundred twenty‐two college women of South Asian descent completed questionnaire measures of disturbed eating behavior, body image dissatisfaction, distress, self‐esteem, acculturation, ethnic identification, and racial teasing. Results History of hurtful racial teasing, but not acculturation or ethnic disidentification, was associated with disturbed eating and body image, even after controlling for distress, self‐esteem, and body mass. Conclusion The psychological impact of racial teasing may be a potent but neglected source of eating and body image disturbance among minority women. © 2003 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 34: 142–147, 2003.