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

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.