Spirituality among young women at risk for eating disorders.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the spiritual and religious (S/R) beliefs and practices of college-age women at high-risk for eating disorders, and the relationship between body image distress, coping, and S/R.


METHODS
Two hundred fifty-five college-age women with elevated weight and shape concerns, assessed using the Weight/Shape Concerns Scale and the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE), completed surveys about their S/R beliefs and practices.


RESULTS
Women with strong S/R beliefs and practices cope with body dissatisfaction differently than women without strong S/R beliefs. Participants with strong S/R were significantly more likely to pray, meditate, or read religious/spiritual texts to cope with body image distress. Participants without strong beliefs and practices were more likely to cope utilizing distraction. Women with strong beliefs who prayed found it effective.


CONCLUSIONS
Study participants were heterogenenous in their S/R beliefs and practices. These beliefs and practices may be underutilized resources for coping with body image concerns.
Jacobs-Pilipski
M Joy
MJ
SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, 6363 Alvarado Court, Suite 103, San Diego, CA 92120, USA. joyj@post.harvard.edu
Winzelberg
Andrew
A
Wilfley
Denise E
DE
Bryson
Susan W
SW
Taylor
C Barr
CB
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012067:Religion; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D029181:Spirituality; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires