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Self-esteem, diet self-efficacy, body mass index, and eating disorders: modeling effects in an ethnically diverse sample

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Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Disordered eating patterns, particularly binge eating, are prevalent in Hispanic samples, yet the biopsychosocial risk factors remain understudied in minority populations. The relationship between diet self-efficacy and bulimic symptoms has been established in non-Hispanic white samples but not yet in Hispanics. This study sought to identify the direct role of diet self-efficacy on eating disorder risk and symptomology in a multicultural Hispanic sample, and to investigate the potential indirect relations among diet self-efficacy, self-esteem, body mass index (BMI), and eating disorder risk and symptomology in Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites.

Methods

The present study surveyed 1339 college students from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Participants completed four standardized scales to assess acculturation, diet self-efficacy, global self-esteem, and eating disorder symptomology and risk. Self-reported height and weight were used for BMI calculations, and the data were analyzed in a robust maximum-likelihood structural equation modeling (SEM) framework.

Results

The findings highlighted diet self-efficacy as a predictor of eating disorder risk and symptomology. Diet self-efficacy partially explained the covariation between self-esteem and eating disorder risk and symptomology, and between BMI and eating disorder risk and symptomology for the entire sample.

Conclusion

Diet self-efficacy emerged as an important construct to consider in developing eating disorder prevention and treatment models.

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Notes

  1. While there has been debate regarding the terms Hispanic and Latino, in the geographic region where the study took place the majority of residents—including survey participants—generally self-identify as Hispanic, thus we use this term in reference to our sample and Latino/Latina when that is how the sample is referred to in other studies [1].

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Acknowledgements

The research was supported by funding from the University Graduate School, Florida International University, awarded to the first author (JFS).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St, Miami, FL, 33199, USA

    Jessica F. Saunders, Leslie D. Frazier & Kristin A. Nichols-Lopez

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  1. Jessica F. Saunders
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  2. Leslie D. Frazier
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  3. Kristin A. Nichols-Lopez
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Correspondence to Leslie D. Frazier.

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The current study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Florida International University.

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Saunders, J.F., Frazier, L.D. & Nichols-Lopez, K.A. Self-esteem, diet self-efficacy, body mass index, and eating disorders: modeling effects in an ethnically diverse sample. Eat Weight Disord 21, 459–468 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-015-0244-6

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