title: Examining social support, rumination, and optimism in relation to binge eating among Caucasian and African-American college women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Binge eating is a significant concern among college age women-both Caucasian and African-American women. Research has shown that social support, coping, and optimism are associated with engaging in fewer negative health behaviors including binge eating among college students. However, the impact of sources of social support (i.e., support from family, friends, and a special person), rumination, and optimism on binge eating as a function of race/ethnicity has received less attention. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between social support, rumination, and optimism and binge eating among Caucasian and American-American women, separately.
  
  
  METHODS
  Caucasian (n = 100) and African-American (n = 84) women from a university in the Mid-Atlantic US completed an online survey about eating behaviors and psychosocial health.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Social support from friends was associated with less likelihood of binge eating among Caucasian women. Social support from family was associated with less likelihood of binge eating among African-American women, but greater likelihood of binge eating among Caucasian women. Rumination was associated with greater likelihood of binge eating among Caucasian and African-American women. Optimism was associated with less likelihood of binge eating among African-American women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrate similarities and differences in correlates of binge eating as a function of race/ethnicity.
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, 120 South 8th St., Fargo, ND, 58103, USA. tmason@nrifargo.com.|Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, 23529, USA. tmason@nrifargo.com.
authors.forename: Tyler B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.affiliation: Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, 23529, USA.|The Virginia Consortium Program in Clinical Psychology, Norfolk, VA, 23504, USA.
authors.forename: Robin J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D056912:Binge-Eating Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D002032:Bulimia / Q000523:psychology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D000067656:Optimism / Q000523:psychology*; D000074222:Rumination, Cognitive / Q000502:physiology*; D012944:Social Support; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States; D014495:Universities; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: African–Americans; Binge eating disorder; Bulimia; Emotional adjustment; Optimism; Social support