Premium
Anorexia nervosa in Asian‐American adolescents: Do they differ from their non‐Asian peers
Author(s) -
Lee HueiYen,
Lock James
Publication year - 2007
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.20364
Subject(s) - psychology , anorexia nervosa , asian americans , clinical psychology , eating disorders , psychiatry , ethnic group , sociology , anthropology
Objective: This study reports on the clinical characteristics and phenomenology of anorexia nervosa (AN) in Asian‐American adolescents, and compares them with a non‐Asian sample. Method: Data were obtained from a family therapy trial for adolescents with AN. Demographic details were collected and participants assessed on a series of structured interviews. Data from Asian participants were compared with that from non‐Asians. Results: Asians scored lower on all the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) subscales, significantly on the restraint subscale (1.48 vs. 2.80, p = 0.016) and weight concerns subscale (1.35 vs. 2.30, p = 0.026). They also scored higher on the Family Environment Scale achievement orientation subscale (6.50 vs. 4.81, p = 0.011). Conclusion: Asians are demographically similar to their non‐Asian peers but tend to come from higher‐income families who were more achievement oriented. EDE scores suggest Asians tend to report fewer symptoms. The apparent lack of fat‐phobia among Asians could be related to this overall under‐reporting of symptoms. © 2007 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2007