title: Disordered eating, socio-cultural media influencers, body image, and psychological factors among a racially/ethnically diverse population of college women.
abstract: This study examined disordered eating, socio-cultural media influencers, body image, and psychological factors among a large, racially/ethnically diverse sample of college women (n=1445; 58% White, 21% Asian, 11% Hispanic, 11% Black) who completed an online survey. Black women were significantly more satisfied with their weight and shape and had lower eating concerns, disinhibited eating, and emotional eating than all other racial/ethnic groups. Black women tended to have significantly higher levels of self-esteem, were less likely to compare their body to those of people in the media, felt less pressured to attain the physical appearance standard set by the media, and had less awareness of the societal appearance norms set by the media than other racial groups. Findings suggest that Black college women, independent of weight status, may be protected from disordered eating, negative body image, and societal media pressures.
authors.affiliation: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Division of Intramural Population Health Research, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. Electronic address: gingermquick@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Virginia M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Quick
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA. Electronic address: bredbenner@aesop.rutgers.edu.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Byrd-Bredbenner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001213:Asian / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D004435:Eating / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008402:Mass Media; D012649:Self Concept; D012945:Social Values / Q000208:ethnology; D014495:Universities; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Body image; College; Disordered eating; Women