International Journal of Intercultural Relations
Volume 31, Issue 1, 2007, Pages 29-49

Who experiences "America the beautiful"?: Ethnicity moderating the effect of acculturation on body image and risks for eating disorders among immigrant women (Article)

Sussman N.M.* , Truong N. , Lim J.
  • a Department of Psychology, The College of Staten Island, The City University of New York, Staten Island, NY 10314, United States, Graduate School, University Center, City University of New York, United States
  • b Graduate School, University Center, City University of New York, United States
  • c Argosy University, Washington, DC, United States

Abstract

As body ideals are culturally constructed, how do ethnicity and acculturation affect body attitudes and risks for eating disorders (ED)? The present cross-sectional study explored this question among 353 women including samples of seldom-investigated ethnic groups. Assessments were made on self and body image, risks for ED and multiple measures of acculturation. Among first generation immigrants, Chinese had the lowest and Afro-Caribbeans the highest self and body image but ethnicity alone had no effect on disordered eating. Acculturation resulted in less healthy attitudes among the Eastern-Europeans but more healthy attitudes among the Chinese. In comparing immigrants with later generations, European-descended women persisted in less healthy attitudes while African-descended women held more positive body attitudes and lower risk for eating pathology. Implications for generational and ethnically sensitive body-related intervention programs are discussed. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

Body image Caribbean Eastern-European Chinese-american Eating disorders Ethnicity Acculturation Body esteem Immigration

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-33845202575&doi=10.1016%2fj.ijintrel.2006.03.003&partnerID=40&md5=ff64645261e8249e97dc102631c450bc
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijintrel.2006.03.003
ISSN: 01471767
Cited by: 40
Original Language: English