Associations among acculturative stress, body ideal internalization, body dissatisfaction and eating pathology among Asian, Black, and Latino men
Department
College of Health Careers
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Eating Behaviors
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Empirical findings support the association between acculturative stress and eating pathology, however, relatively few studies have examined mechanisms of this link among racially and ethnically diverse men. The current study addressed these gaps by examining the potential roles of thin-, and muscular-ideal internalization and body dissatisfaction as mediators of the relation between acculturative stress and eating pathology among Asian, Black, and Latino men.
METHODS: Adult men from across the United States (Asian N = 110; Black N = 117; Latino N = 85) completed measures of acculturative stress, body ideals, body dissatisfaction, and eating pathology. Analyses investigated the mediating roles of body image ideal internalization (thin-, muscular-) and body dissatisfaction as mediators of the relation between acculturative stress and eating pathology across each racial and ethnic group.
RESULTS: Results identified a significant association between acculturative stress and eating pathology among Asian, Black, and Latino men. In addition, across all groups, thin-ideal internalization mediated the relation between acculturative stress and eating pathology. However, body dissatisfaction and muscular-ideal internalization did not mediate the relation between acculturative stress and eating pathology among any of the groups.
CONCLUSION: Findings highlight the importance of acculturative stress, thin-ideal internalization, and their associations with eating pathology among racially and ethnically diverse men. Future research should examine within-group differences across racial and ethnic subgroups to further enhance understanding of culturally specific risk factors.
First Page
102062
DOI
10.1016/j.eatbeh.2025.102062
Volume
60
Publication Date
1-1-2026
Medical Subject Headings
Humans; Male; Adult; Stress, Psychological; Acculturation; Body Image; Black or African American; Asian; Hispanic or Latino; Feeding and Eating Disorders; Body Dissatisfaction; Young Adult; United States; Middle Aged; White
PubMed ID
41352036
Recommended Citation
Henning, T., Vashro, T., Derrigo, K., Parton, D. M., Perez, M., & Mazzeo, S. E. (2026). Associations among acculturative stress, body ideal internalization, body dissatisfaction and eating pathology among Asian, Black, and Latino men. Eating Behaviors, 60, 102062. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2025.102062