Abstract
The aim of this exploratory study was to investigate the correlation between cultural and psychological factors in relation to predicting eating disorders in two different non-clinical Italian (n = 61) and Swedish (n = 31) female populations, thought to have different cultures and lifestyles. The Swedish sample would reflect an emancipated model of women pursuing autonomy and freedom but also an ideal of thinness, while the Italian sample would reflect a difficult transition from traditional submissiveness to modern autonomy. Both groups completed self-report instruments assessing cultural values (e.g., collectivism and individualism) and features of eating disorders (e.g., drive for thinness, bulimia, body dissatisfaction, self-esteem, parental criticism and perfectionism). Swedish women were found to display higher levels of bulimia, perfectionism, and individualism than Italian women, while regression analysis showed that in the Italian sample high levels of collectivism were correlated with measures of EDs. The results support the hypothesis that EDs are linked with both modern values of autonomy, independence and emancipation, and situations of cultural transition in which women are simultaneously exposed to traditional models of submission and opportunities for emancipation and autonomy.
Highlights
Cultural attitudes and beliefs have been shown to be significant contributing factors in the development of eating disorders (EDs)
vertical individualism (VI) is defined as self-interest and competition, horizontal individualism (HI) by independence and autonomy, vertical collectivism (VC) is defined as giving priority to group goals over individual goals and having respect for elders and persons in authority, and horizontal collectivism (HC) is characterized by relationship-orientation and harmony
Preliminary Analyses Regarding the internal consistency of the instruments, Cronbach’s alpha values for the Individualism–Collectivism Scale (ICS) subscales were: 0.75 among Southern Italian women and 0.77 among Swedish women for the VI subscale; 0.71 among Southern Italian women and 0.78 among Swedish women for the HI subscale; 0.76 among Southern Italian women and 0.81 among Swedish women for the VC subscale; 0.68 among Southern Italian women and 0.78 among Swedish women for the HC subscale
Summary
Cultural attitudes and beliefs have been shown to be significant contributing factors in the development of eating disorders (EDs). The rise in EDs in Western countries may be attributed at least in part to the modern cultural shift towards individual autonomy and freedom and the rejection of a traditional lifestyle based on patriarchal and familial values (Kashubeck-West & Tagger, 2012; Katzman & Lee, 1997; Nasser, 1988). This notion of modernization as a risk factor for EDs may be insufficient. A modern individualistic mentality would lead to the pursuit of personal autonomy and self-confidence, the setting of personal goals, and the building of functional relationships among peers to achieve concrete aims (Nasser, 1988; Ruggiero, 2003)
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