Acculturation, Acculturative Stress and Eating Disorder Symptoms Among Latina University Students

Abstract

This study examined relationships between acculturation, acculturative stress, and symptoms of eating disorders among Latina university students in the US. We hypothesized that acculturative stress would be associated with increased symptoms, and acculturation would indirectly be associated with fewer symptoms via acculturative stress. Survey data from 567 Latinas age 18 to 54 at a public Western university were collected online. Participants provided data on acculturation, acculturative stress, demographics, and eating disorders symptoms. The results indicated that acculturation was indirectly and negatively related to desire for thinness, binge eating, and bulimia via its negative association with acculturative stress, which in turn was positively associated with eating disorder symptoms. However, acculturation had a direct positive association with binge eating and bulimia after considering its indirect negative associations via acculturative stress. The unique contributions of this study and its implications for mental health professionals, the media, and higher education are discussed.