An examination of individual, relational, and cultural risk for disordered eating in Asian American college students

Abstract

Objective: This study examined how individual (satisfaction of basic psychological needs), relational (perceived achievement- and dependency-oriented parental psychological control), and cultural (ethnic identity) factors may contribute to Asian American college students’ (18 – 25 years of age) disordered eating. Participants: Asian American college students (N = 118) participated in the study. Methods: Participants completed a cross-sectional survey study. Moderated mediation models were used to analyze the data. Results: Analyses showed that perceived achievement-oriented, but not dependency-oriented, parental psychological control was more strongly associated with psychological needs satisfaction at higher, compared to lower, levels of ethnic identity. Conclusions: Findings highlighted the importance of both parenting and ethnic identity among Asian American college students’ psychological needs and risk for disordered eating. The complex relations among achievement expectations, ethnic identity and wellbeing in Asian Americans are discussed. The results can inform intervention and prevention programs attending to the needs of this population.