Spirituality and eating disorder risk factors in African American women.

Purpose: The increased prevalence of body dissatisfaction and eating disordered behaviors (EDBs) among African American women warrants further examination of critical factors that may contribute to this recent trend. This study sought to investigate whether ethnic identification, spirituality, and internalization of the thin ideal would be associated with decreased body dissatisfaction and EDBs.

Method: A convenience sample of 55 African American college women was recruited from a college campus.