An Examination of Anxiety and Overeating Among African American Women: Can Spirituality or Cultural Identity Act as Mediators?
Open Access
Author:
Lee, Tara J
Graduate Program:
Counseling Psychology
Degree:
Doctor of Philosophy
Document Type:
Dissertation
Date of Defense:
December 14, 2012
Committee Members:
Jeffrey Hayes, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor Jeffrey Hayes, Committee Chair/Co-Chair Dr Mary Mc Clanahan, Committee Member Louis Georges Castonguay, Committee Member Dr Janet Mc Cracken, Committee Member
Keywords:
African American Anxiety Racism Eating Disorders in African American Women Cultural Identity Religion as Protective Factor College Students Overeating Psychology
Abstract:
ABSTRACT
College students are confronted with a variety of stressors including managing academic coursework, navigating relationships, as well as adjusting to campus life. African American students are subject to the additional stressor of racism on a consistent basis. In addition to the pernicious effects of racism, African American women may also be confronted with the negative effects of sexism and classism. These experiences (as an aggregate as well as separately) impact individuals in myriad ways but a commonly reported result is increased anxiety. A frequently utilized coping mechanism to deal with anxiety is overeating. This study posited a positive correlation between anxiety and overeating concerns among a sample of African American college women. Two mediation models were also examined. The first model hypothesized that an individual’s spiritual or religious practice could ameliorate the effect of anxiety on overeating. The second model posited that possessing a strong cultural identity would mediate the effects of anxiety on overeating. Results confirmed that anxiety was positively correlated with overeating; however neither mediation model was proven to be true.
