Perceived Social Climate and Weight Preoccupation in College Women

Abstract

Abstract Most current theories of eating disorders propose that cultural factors influence the development of eating disorders. The present study sought to expand our understanding of the relationship between perceived social climate variables and weight preoccupation in a nonclinical population. We hypothesized that weight-preoccupied college women would differ from normal controls in their perceptions of their campus's social environment. Social climate measures and an abbreviated Eating Disorders Inventory were completed by 283 female college students at two US campuses. The hypothesis that weight-preoccupied women would perceive their campus as placing a stronger emphasis on appearance than would normal controls was confirmed. The predicted relationship between traditional social orientation and weight preoccupation was partially confirmed. No differences were found between weight-preoccupied and normal control women in perceptions of their campus on the dimensions of involvement, competition, depende...