Personal identities and disordered eating behaviors in Mexican American women.
Eating disorder behaviors are prevalent in Latina populations. This study tested Schwartz's (2006) theoretical view that a broad array of personal identities serves as an internal resource during acculturation and prevents internalization of dysfunctional weight related beliefs. Sixty-six Mexican American women completed measures of personal identities, fat self-definition, eating disorder symptoms and acculturation. Results show that few positive and many negative personal identities predict higher eating disorder scores and effects are mediated through the fat self-definition. Characteristics of personal identities may influence internalization of cultural values related to weight. Interventions focused on overall identity may prevent eating disorders in Latinas.
Stein
Karen Farchaus
KF
University of Michigan School of Nursing, 400 N. Ingalls, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States. kfarchau@umich.edu
Corte
Colleen
C
Ronis
David L
DL
D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D001835:Body Weight; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007062:Identification, Psychological; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000523:psychology*; D008824:Michigan / Q000453:epidemiology; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult