title: Ethnicity, ethnic identity, self-esteem, and at-risk eating disordered behavior differences of urban adolescent females.
abstract: The purpose of this study was two-fold: to determine the relationship between ethnic identity and self-esteem as dimensions of one's self-concept; and to determine if differences exist among one's ethnicity, ethnic identity, and/or self-esteem when examining at-risk eating disordered behaviors. A total of 893 urban adolescent females completed three behavioral subscales: the Eating Disorder Inventory, Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale, and Phinney's Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure. As hypothesized, ethnic identity was significantly associated with self-esteem to form one's self-concept. When compared to Mexican American and White females, only Black females who were in the higher ethnic identity and self-esteem categories had significantly lower at-risk eating disordered scores. Our findings suggest eating disorder status in Mexican American and White females may not be associated as much with ethnic identity as with other acculturation and self-concept factors. Further, this study demonstrated ethnicity, self-esteem, and ethnic identity play significant roles in eating disorder risks.
authors.affiliation: Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas 76129, USA. d.rhea@tcu.edu
authors.forename: Deborah J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Rhea
authors.forename: W Gregory
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Thatcher
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000523:psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology