Sociocultural influences, body dissatisfaction, and disordered eating among European American and Chinese female college students

This study aimed to investigate the socioeconomic and nutritional factors associated with disordered eating among Brazilian female college students (n = 2,489). Prevalence ratios of risk factors were calculated using Poisson regression models with robust variance based on responses to selected questions from the Eating Attitude Test and Disordered Eating Attitude Scale. It was found that 40.7% of students were dieting, 35.6% were using diet or compensatory methods, 23.9% skipping meals, 12.6% not eating or just drinking liquids, and 3.3%, vomiting to lose weight. A positive association was found between not eating or just drinking liquids and skipping meals and nutritional status after adjustment for age and region. A positive association was found between compensatory methods and dieting and education level of the head of the family. Disordered eating behaviors were frequent, and not eating and skipping meals were more prevalent among overweight/obese students; compensatory methods and dieting were less prevalent among students from families whose head had up to only four years of education. Prevention strategies and food education are necessary in order to decrease the prevalence of these behaviors.

Download Full-text

Three Mediating Pathways of Anxiety and Security in the Relationship between Coping Style and Disordered Eating Behaviors among Chinese Female College Students

Neural Plasticity ◽

10.1155/2021/7506754 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-6

Author(s):

Wenyue Han ◽

Zheng Zheng ◽

Ning Zhang

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Disordered Eating ◽

Coping Style ◽

Eating Behaviors ◽

Mediating Effect ◽

Female College Students ◽

Disordered Eating Behaviors ◽

Female College ◽

Sense Of Security ◽

The Relationship

Background. According to previous studies, eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors are associated with coping style, anxiety, and sense of security. However, the specific mechanism between them has not been elucidated. The purpose of this study was to explore whether anxiety and sense of security play mediating roles in coping style and disordered eating behaviors among Chinese female college students. Method. Six hundred and ninety-one female college students ( mean age = 19.36 ; SD = 1.06 ) completed the Simple Coping Style Questionnaire, the Eating Disorder Inventory, the Security Questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and a brief demographic survey. The percentage bootstrap method of deviation correction was conducted to determine the mediating effect of anxiety and sense of security on coping style and disordered eating behaviors. Results. Coping style had direct and indirect effects on disordered eating behaviors. Anxiety and sense of security were not only independent mediators in the relationship between coping style and disordered eating behaviors but also chain mediators. Conclusions. The results of the current study provide preliminary evidence that preventive interventions targeting anxiety and sense of security may be feasible for young women who develop disordered eating behaviors due to stress in their lives.

Download Full-text

Sociocultural pressure, internalization, BMI, exercise, and body dissatisfaction in Korean female college students

Journal of Health Psychology ◽

10.1177/1359105316634450 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 22 (13) ◽

pp. 1712-1720 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Kyulee Shin ◽

Sukkyung You ◽

Euikyung Kim

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Body Dissatisfaction ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Peer Pressure ◽

Female College Students ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Thin Ideal ◽

Female College ◽

Thin Ideal Internalization ◽

Sociocultural Pressure

This research investigated the differential effects of sociocultural pressures from media, peers, and parents on the thin ideal internalization and body dissatisfaction of 472 Korean female college students using structural equation modeling. Results indicated that after controlling for body mass index and exercise, media pressure exerted the largest effects, followed by peer pressure and parental pressure, on thin ideal internalization, and in turn, body dissatisfaction. Furthermore, parent and media pressures were found to exert direct effects on body dissatisfaction as well as indirect effects through thin ideal internalization. The results and implications of the study are discussed.

Download Full-text