Binge Eating and Internalized Weight Bias Among Racial/Ethnic and Sexual Minorities: Implications for Multicultural Counseling
Abstract
The current quasi-experimental study examined the relationship between internalized weight bias and binge-eating severity among racial/ethnic and sexual minorities. The moderating effects of minority status also were explored. Two-hundred forty adult participants completed a self-report survey regarding eating patterns and weight-related beliefs. Pearson’s r correlation was used to analyze the relationship between internalized weight bias and binge-eating severity. Multiple regression was used to analyze the moderation effect of minority statuses on the relationship between internalized weight bias and binge-eating severity. One-way and two-way MANOVA and MANCOVA were used to analyze the interaction effect of minority statuses on internalized weight bias and binge-eating severity, when controlling for sex and weight status. As expected, results indicated a positive relationship between internalized weight bias and binge-eating severity. Surprisingly, only sexual minority status moderated the relationship between internalized weight bias and binge-eating severity. Additionally, racial/ethnic status and dual minority status did not moderate the relationship. Results suggest that factors unique to sexual minority status may link internalized stigma to eating pathology for this group. Clinical implications and recommendations for future research directions are presented.
Subject Area
Counseling Psychology
Recommended Citation
LaToya R Favre,
"Binge Eating and Internalized Weight Bias Among Racial/Ethnic and Sexual Minorities: Implications for Multicultural Counseling"
(2019).
ETD Collection for Tennessee State University.
Paper AAI13815285.
https://digitalscholarship.tnstate.edu/dissertations/AAI13815285