Sociocultural Differences in Eating Disordered Behaviors and Body Image Perception: A Comparison between Puerto Rican and American College Women.

This study investigated whether differences attributable to sociocultural factors existed in the eating-disorder behaviors and body image perception of Puerto Rican and U.S. college women. Participants (n=440) completed the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 and provided demographic information. Results indicated significant differences between the groups in the areas of body dissatisfaction, perfectionism, interpersonal distrust, and maturity fears. The U.S. group scored significantly higher in body dissatisfaction (body image), and the Puerto Rican group scored significantly higher in the other three areas (psychological factors). The U.S. group scored significantly below the normative group in three traits for eating disorders (body dissatisfaction, perfectionism, and interpersonal distrust). The Puerto Rican group scored significantly below the normative group in the same three traits for eating disorders and in maturity fears. There were significant differences in body dissatisfaction by country and body mass index (BMI). A significant positive correlation occurred between body dissatisfaction and BMI and between drive for thinness and BMI for the U.S. sample. Results suggest that college environments and sociocultural expectations contribute to the manifestation, development, and maintenance of eating-disorder behaviors and misperceptions of body image by emphasizing perfection, competition, and physical attractiveness. (Contains 18 tables and 69 references.) (SM)