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Disordered eating and religious observance: A focus on ultra‐orthodox Jews in an adult community study
Author(s) -
Feinson Marjorie C.,
Meir Adi
Publication year - 2012
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.20895
Subject(s) - disordered eating , context (archaeology) , psychology , judaism , social psychology , demography , clinical psychology , sociology , eating disorders , history , archaeology
Objective: To broaden the socio‐cultural context of eating disturbances by exploring religious observance and its presumed protective role for ultra‐Orthodox women. Method: Detailed telephone interviews with community sample of adult Jewish women in Israel, including 261 ultra‐Orthodox. Frequency of 14 symptoms of disordered eating (DEB) assessed. Hierarchical regressions examine predictors of DEB severity within observance categories (ultra‐Orthodox, Orthodox, Traditional, and Secular). Results: Contrary to expectations, no significant differences were found in the frequency of serious DEB between the most and least religiously observant, ultra‐Orthodox, and Secular women. Regressions reveal similar predictors of DEB severity (obesity followed by self‐criticism) as well as substantial variations in amount of variance explained. Discussion: Apparently, rigorous religious adherence does not protect ultra‐Orthodox women from serious eating problems. Additional analyses can inform socio‐cultural perspectives by examining the connection between body dissatisfaction and disordered eating in this insular and isolated religious community, whose exposure to secular media is prohibited. © 2011 by Wiley Periodicals,Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2012)