Socio-cultural factors contributing to eating disorder development amongst women of South Asian ethnicity: a meta-synthesis

Purpose The purpose of this study is to synthesize published empirical qualitative evidence which explores the socio-cultural influences on the development of eating disorders from the perspective of South Asian women. Design/methodology/approach A systematic search of the databases CINAHL, MEDLINE, Scopus and APA PsycINFO was conducted to identify relevant journal articles published up to August 2023. The quality of the included studies was appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme Qualitative Tool. Data was synthesized and analysed using thematic synthesis. Findings Four studies from the UK, USA and Canada were included in the meta-synthesis. Three main themes were found: gratifying others, negative childhood experiences and shame and stigma. Practical implications South Asian women report many socio-cultural factors that can influence eating disorder development. Findings of this meta-synthesis highlight the importance of cultural awareness, and health-care professionals should be aware of the nuanced socio-cultural factors that can influence a South Asian woman’s relationship with food and body image. Originality/value South Asian communities are understudied in the context of mental health, including eating disorders. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to synthesize the available qualitative evidence on socio-cultural influences on eating disorder development among South Asian women. These findings have revealed insights that can be harnessed by health-care professionals to better understand factors that contribute to eating disorder development and support cultural awareness.