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Body Dissatisfaction and the Relevance of Religiosity: A Focus on Ultra-Orthodox Jews in a Community Study of Adult Women

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A Publisher's Erratum to this article was published on 11 February 2016

Abstract

Body image dissatisfaction (BID) is one of the most robust risk factors associated with eating disturbances. However, much remains unknown about it especially regarding a potentially protective factor, namely religiosity. As shown in hundreds of studies, religiosity has consistently been associated with better health and mental health outcomes. Utilizing a large, community-based study of adult Jewish women, we compare ultra-Orthodox and Secular Jewish women, two groups at opposite ends of the religious observance spectrum. Detailed telephone interviews were conducted with a broadly representative sample of adult women (mean age 44) in Israel from distinct religious observance groups. Frequency of 13 BID symptoms was assessed in addition to two clinical correlates, weight and self-criticism. Separate hierarchical regressions use bootstrapping to explore predictors of BID severity within each group. Contrary to expectations, no significant differences in body dissatisfaction emerge between rigorously religious and non-religious Jewish respondents. In addition, the findings reveal surprisingly similar patterns of predictors of BID severity with self-criticism making a noteworthy contribution for both groups. However, despite strong similarities, it is premature to dismiss potentially protective aspects of religiosity vis-à-vis BID without additional studies. In the interim, clinical prevention and treatment interventions that focus on reducing self-criticism may be extremely important for addressing BID issues among adult women—regardless of degree of religious observance.

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Notes

  1. Although some object to the term 'ultra-Orthodox,' it is used interchangeably with Haredi because of its common usage in Israel and the US.

  2. Additionally, almost 70 % of respondents rated their physical health as excellent, very good or good while two-thirds said they did not suffer from any major health conditions.

  3. The authors acknowledge the extreme variability in prevalence rates due to methodological issues including operational definitions of BD. (p, 359).

  4. The one exception is that Secular self-criticism makes a slightly stronger contribution to BID severity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Falk Institute for Behavioral Health Studies, Kfar Shaul, Givat Shaul, 9382408, Jerusalem, Israel

    Marjorie C. Feinson

  2. Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, Israel

    Tzipi Hornik-Lurie

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  1. Marjorie C. Feinson
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  2. Tzipi Hornik-Lurie
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Correspondence to Marjorie C. Feinson.

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Feinson, M.C., Hornik-Lurie, T. Body Dissatisfaction and the Relevance of Religiosity: A Focus on Ultra-Orthodox Jews in a Community Study of Adult Women. Clin Soc Work J 44, 87–97 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-016-0574-5

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