Body image and eating disturbance among South Asian-American women: The role of racial teasing

Objective: Acculturation and loss of ethnic identification have been proposed as risk factors for eating and body image disturbance among women of color. This study investigated whether being teased about racial or ethnic features might also play a role in these disturbances in minority women. Methods: One hundred twenty-two college women of South Asian descent completed questionnaire measures of disturbed eating behavior, body image dissatisfaction, distress, self-esteem, acculturation, ethnic identification, and racial teasing. Results: History of hurtful racial teasing, but not acculturation or ethnic disidentification, was associated with disturbed eating and body image, even after controlling for distress, self-esteem, and body mass. Conclusion: The psychological impact of racial teasing may be a potent but neglected source of eating and body image disturbance among minority women. (C) 2003 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.