AlShebali, M., AlHadi, A. and Waller, G. orcid.org/0000-0001-7794-9546 (2021) The impact of ongoing westernization on eating disorders and body image dissatisfaction in a sample of undergraduate Saudi women. Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity, 26 (6). pp. 1835-1844. ISSN 1124-4909
Abstract
Purpose
This study addressed the prevalence of eating disorders and levels of eating pathology, body image, and psychological comorbidities in undergraduate women in Saudi Arabia. It examined the role of the current internalization of western culture that is under way in that country, focusing on political and economic issues rather than on issues such as media exposure per se.
Method
Participants were 503 Saudi female university students (mean age = 19.78 years). Each completed a diagnostic measure of eating disorders and measures of disordered eating attitudes and behaviours, body image, depression, social anxiety, and self-esteem. They also completed a measure of the internalization of western culture, specific to current political and cultural developments in Saudi Arabia.
Results
Eating disorder prevalence and pathology rates among undergraduates females were comparable to western levels, though the pattern was more one of bulimic than anorexic pathology. Internalization of western values was associated with eating pathology, body image, and psychological comorbidities.
Conclusion
Eating disorders are not an exclusively western issue, as the levels in Saudi undergraduate women are similar to those in western cultures (though they tend more towards bulimic than anorexic presentations). Internalization of western values appears to be key to this pattern.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
---|---|
Authors/Creators: |
|
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG. This is an author-produced version of a paper subsequently published in Eating and Weight Disorders. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Westernization; Saudi Arabia; eating disorders; young women |
Dates: |
|
Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Science (Sheffield) > Department of Psychology (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 13 Oct 2020 10:03 |
Last Modified: | 28 Jan 2022 16:39 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Springer Nature |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1007/s40519-020-01028-w |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:166639 |