ETHNIC-DIFFERENCES IN PSYCHOSOCIAL AND HEALTH BEHAVIOR CORRELATES OF DIETING, PURGING, AND BINGE-EATING IN A POPULATION-BASED SAMPLE OF ADOLESCENT FEMALES

Objective: To examine ethnic differences in factors associated with di sordered eating behaviors. Method: Data were collected from 17,159 ado lescent females who completed a school-based health survey conducted i n 1987. Results: In all ethnic groups, dieting was associated in bivar iate analyses with weight dissatisfaction, perceived overweight, and l ow body pride. Purging was associated with weight dissatisfaction, per ceived overweight, low body pride, greater suicide risk, and greater a lcohol use. Binge eating was associated with weight dissatisfaction, p erceived overweight, low body pride, lower family connectedness, great er peer acceptance concerns, and emotional stress. Discussion: Body di ssatisfaction and perceived overweight are consistent correlates of di eting and binge eating in adolescent females of diverse ethnic groups. Ethnic subculture does not appear to protect against the broader soci ocultural factors that foster body dissatisfaction among adolescent fe males. Implications for understanding sociocultural influences on diet ing, obesity, and eating disorders are discussed. (C) 1997 by John Wil ey & Sons, Inc.