Social Identity and Eating Behaviors: How Cultural Norms Impact Disordered Eating

Disordered eating behaviors (DEBs), such as frequent dieting, emotional eating, and obsessive “clean eating,” are increasingly prevalent in our society and have been linked to significant physical and psychological health risks. However, the role of sociocultural influences, such as discrimination and social media, are often overlooked. This study examined the relationship between disordered eating behaviors and perceived discriminatory experiences, social media use, physical self-description, and attitudes toward eating among undergraduate college students. The sample consisted of 110 undergraduate students. Participants completed an electronic survey comprised of the Everyday Discrimination Scale-S (EDS-S), Social Media Usage Scale (SMUS), Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26), Physical Self-Description Questionnaire-Short (PSDQ-S), and the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q). Descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, and multiple regression analysis were conducted to examine potential correlations and predictors. This study found that attitudes toward eating, everyday discrimination, and body fat dissatisfaction were significant predictors of disordered eating behavior. Social media usage, however, was not a significant predictor of disordered eating behavior. This study has potential implications for interventions aimed at treating disordered eating behavior. This research helps address a gap in understanding of how sociocultural factors influence the development of eating pathology and offers potential pathways for enhancing treatment through cultural awareness.