Undergraduate Honors Theses
Date of Award
4-2020
Program
Psychology
Supervisor
Dr. Lindsay Bodell
Abstract
The current study aimed to examine the relationship between specific cultural factors and risk factors for disordered eating in Asian Americans (AAs). Participants were 209 undergraduate students from Western University and affiliated colleges recruited through the Undergraduate Psychology SONA Research Pool. Demographics questions and self-report questionnaires measuring risk factors for disordered eating (i.e., body dissatisfaction, thin-ideal internalization, negative attitudes towards obesity, pressures for thinness), ethnic identity, and adherence to Asian values were completed. Using the data collected, descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVAs, and correlational analyses were conducted. It was found that White participants scored highest on thin-ideal internalization. Furthermore, the Asian value of emotional-self control was positively associated with thin-ideal internalization and pressures for thinness. Humility was positively correlated with negative attitudes towards obesity. On the other hand, conformity to norms was negatively correlated with body dissatisfaction. Ethnic identity was not associated with any disordered eating variables. These findings suggest that AAs are also subject to risk factors of disordered eating commonly studied in White populations. Furthermore, the results suggest certain relationships exist between specific cultural values and predictors of eating disorders. Future research should examine these relationships with larger samples, using experimental or longitudinal designs to establish causation.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Kim, Jina C., "The Role of Cultural Factors in Disordered Eating Among Asian Americans" (2020). Undergraduate Honors Theses. 56.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/psychd_uht/56