The relationship among cultural variables and weight issues for Asian American women

Abstract

The present study investigated whether multicultural variables derived from the Multicultural Assessment-Intervention Process model (shifting, gender roles, acculturation, perceived discrimination) could predict levels of internalized weight bias (IWB) or disordered eating behaviours in 429 Asian American adult women. A facet of shifting, White beauty conformity and mainstream acculturation were the only multicultural variables that significantly predicted all five body- and eating-related outcomes (IWB, restraint, eating, shape and weight concerns). Gender roles and two aspects of perceived discrimination (social exclusion and stigmatization) also showed predictive ability for one or more of the outcome measures. Results highlight the relationship between multicultural and body- and eating-related variables for Asian American women and underscore the salience of body shape and weight, the importance placed on conforming to Western culture and beauty standards and the detrimental effects of doing so for this population. Clinical implications and future research are discussed.