Background: This workshop focuses on African-American women on predominantly White college campuses, and describes some of the unique experiences contributing to eating disorder vulnerability and body image conflicts in this population that remains marginalized in the eating disorders literature. Recommendations for effective and culturally sensitive care, assessment and diagnoses are offered.
While there has been recent attention to issues affecting African-American women, they remain marginalized in eating disorders literature. Despite that much of the existing literature addresses the misconception that eating disorders affect mostly young, White women and not African-American women, studies show clinicians remain less likely to recognize eating disorders in African-American women than in White women. However, recent research suggests that African-American women do manifest clinically significant eating pathology and associated risk factors. Variables that may account for this misconception include sociocultural models of eating pathology positing the existence of protective factors, clinical approaches to classification (i.e., DSM criteria), and measures to assess their symptoms and risk factors. Most of the major measures have documented psychometric support only in predominantly White samples and therefore may not be appropriate for use with African-American women. African-American women tend to score lower on these measures, which implies a lack of pathology, making them less likely to seek treatment based on these results. However, it may be more likely that many of the unique symptoms and external risk factors (i.e., hair and skin issues, trauma, poverty, food availability, co-morbid conditions, etc.) and acculturative stress (i.e., attempts to cope with stress associated with discrimination, navigating two distinct cultures, etc.) they experience aren’t being assessed adequately or at all. In this interactive workshop, presenters will begin by describing some of the influences of these factors which significantly impact African-American women’s body image and identity, yielding their vulnerability to pathology. Through small and large group discussions, participants will explore culture-specific standards of beauty relative to the ‘Thin Ideal,’ and its impact on African-American women’s body image. BED and obesity in this population will be addressed in particular. Workshop participants will then compare and contrast some important similarities and differences between African-American and White women on classification and correlates of eating disorders. Participants will also evaluate findings concerning the validity of extant measures of eating disorders for use with African-American women. Finally, strategies are offered to help improve assessment, diagnoses and treatment of eating disorders and associated risk factors in African-American women.
Much of the misconception that eating disorders affect mostly young, White women from upper socioeconomic backgrounds is due to sociocultural models of eating disorders, measures of eating disorders and symptoms (most of the major instruments have documented psychometric support only in predominantly White samples), clinical approaches to classification, and conflicting results of experimental studies. The unfortunate outcome is that African-American women are less likely than their White peers to receive eating disorder referrals or to seek treatment on their own. What researchers do seem to agree on most often is that African-American women appear to be more vulnerable to binge eating and obesity, while White women seem more susceptible to restricting and other symptomology and risk factors. This workshop draws on the presenters’ experience in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of college women of color on two predominantly White, southern campuses. The presenters will examine some of the complex experiences unique to African-American women that contribute to an increased vulnerability to developing body image dissatisfaction and conflicts, and disordered eating. Their goal is to help facilitate participants’ efforts to increase their awareness of factors affecting this population, leading to better identification and treatment of persons who are often considered among the least likely to develop an eating disorder. Various external factors including trauma, poverty, food availability and quality, biology and other individual experiences, racism, comfort food binging, father/daughter relationship issues, and acculturative stress have predicted higher levels of eating disorder symptoms among African-American women and must be addressed in treatment. Suggestions are provided to assist practitioners in recognizing eating disturbances and symptomology in this population. Also, strategies are offered to aid in more effective ways to facilitate accurate assessment, diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders in African-American women, including recommendations for obtaining information regarding cultural factors and for addressing racial differences and difficulties during treatment.
Dr. Charlynn Small is a native of Washington, DC, and is a licensed clinical psychologist on staff at the University of Richmond’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Center in Virginia, where she serves as Chair of the University's Eating Disorders Assessment Team. She received her MA in Clinical/Community Psychology at the University of the District of Columbia, and her Ph.D. in School Psychology at Howard University. She is licensed as a professional counselor in Washington, DC, and is certified as a school psychologist in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Published journal articles focus on multicultural education.
Dr. Dr. Mazella B. Fuller is a Clinical Associate at Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at Duke University. Dr. Fuller provides clinical services, consultation and intern training for Duke students, faculty, staff and CAPS’ training program. Dr. Fuller has a background as an academic instructor/teacher. She has training and experience in business development. She also has expertise in Women’s Executive Coaching and Leadership Development. Her core competencies include Psychology of Women, Clinical Services, Multicultural Consulting and Certified Eating Disorders Specialist. Dr. Fuller has presented internationally on topics including Multicultural Education and Women’s Leadership.
