Disordered Eating and Psychological Distress: Internalized Thinness and Sociocultural Pressures as Mediators for Black Women

Abstract Disordered eating and psychological distress among Black women are understudied, despite similar prevalence rates to those of White women and persistent health disparities. Sociocultural attitudes toward appearance, including internalized thinness ideals and pressures from family, peers, and the media, may influence these outcomes. This study examined whether sociocultural appearance attitudes mediate the relationship between disordered eating and psychological distress in Black women in the U.S. A sample of 187 Black/African American women completed self-report measures assessing disordered eating, psychological distress, and sociocultural appearance attitudes. Regression analyses tested the association between disordered eating and psychological distress, and mediation analyses examined whether appearance attitudes explained this relationship. Disordered eating significantly predicted higher psychological distress. Mediation analyses indicated that internalized thinness ideals and sociocultural pressures partially mediated this association. Sociocultural appearance pressures play a significant role in Black women's mental health, challenging assumptions of protection from thin-ideal influences. Findings underscore the importance of culturally responsive assessments and interventions addressing relational, media, and systemic factors affecting body image and eating behaviors.