Date of Award

1996

Publication Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.

Department

Psychology

Keywords

Psychology, Clinical.

Supervisor

Porter, Jim,

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Abstract

Previous research indicates that women who immigrate from non-Western countries to Western ones may be at a high risk of developing eating disorders, possibly because they overidentify with Western values (Banks, 1992; Thompson, 1994). Furthermore, the risk of developing an eating disorder tends to increase as the immigrant becomes increasingly acculturated (Pumariega, 1986). The present study examined differences in pathological eating attitudes, body dissatisfaction, and ideal body image, among three groups of women: a group of White Canadian women and two groups of Middle Eastern Arab women who had lived in Canada for varying lengths of time. A total of 37 Arab women (18 recently arrived and 19 more established) and 45 Canadian women completed the Eating Attitudes Test (a measure of pathological eating attitudes), the Body Image Assessment Procedure (a measure of body dissatisfaction and ideal body image), and had their heights and weights measured. The Arab immigrant women also completed the American-International Relations Scale (an acculturation measure). The results indicated that the two Arab groups, who did not differ on acculturation scores, obtained higher scores on a measure of pathological eating attitudes than the indigenous Canadian women, although the two Arab groups did not differ from each other. There was no difference among the three groups on either ideal body size or level of body dissatisfaction. Explanations for these findings and the implications of the present study are discussed.Dept. of Psychology. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1996 .S52. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 37-01, page: 0369. Adviser: Jim Porter. Thesis (M.A.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1996.

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