Thinness and restricting expectancies mediate the influence of ethnic identity on bulimic symptoms

Studies suggest that a developed sense of ethnic identity is associated with positive psychological outcomes, but the relationship between ethnic identity (EI) and symptoms of bulimia nervosa (BN) is not clear. We tested a model that thinness expectancies mediate the relationship between EI and BN symptoms. We hypothesized that (1) EI would be negatively correlated with thinness expectancies and BN symptoms; (2) thinness expectancies would be positively correlated with BN symptoms; and (3) thinness expectancies would mediate the relationship between EI and BN symptoms.Four hundred ninety-three college women from diverse ethnic backgrounds completed self-report measures of thinness expectancies, ethnic identity, and bulimic symptoms.EI accounted for significant variance in BN symptoms (beta = −.10, p < .05) and thinness expectancies (beta = −.12, p < .01). Thinness expectancies accounted for significant variance in BN symptoms (beta = .61, p < .01). Results of a hierarchical linear regression were consistent with the posited hypothesis. Results suggest that EI may be a factor in developing BN symptoms in minority as well as non-minority women. It may be that an individual with a strong sense of belonging to a certain ethnic group is less likely to develop thinness expectancies and consequently BN symptoms.