Disordered Eating Among Asian/Asian American Women: Racial and Cultural Factors as Correlates

Sociocultural models of eating disorders emphasize the role of internalization of media standards of beauty in eating pathology but rarely examine (a) how racial and cultural factors may be related to women of color's tendency to endorse Western media beauty ideals or (b) these women's risk of developing body dissatisfaction and disordered eating issues. This study of Asian/Asian American women (N = 587) investigated the roles of perceived racial discrimination, ethnic identity, and racial/ethnic teasing in relation to self-esteem, internalization of Western standards of beauty, and body dissatisfaction as predictors of disordered eating in a structural model. Results indicated that, when controlling for body mass, perceived racial discrimination, ethnic identity, and racial/ethnic teasing significantly predicted disordered eating and its correlate variables through direct and indirect links. The findings suggest racial and cultural factors may complement sociocultural models in understanding disordered eating issues among Asian/Asian American women.