Disordered eating among Asian American college women: A racially expanded model of objectification theory.

Objectification theory has been applied to understand disordered eating among college women. A recent extension of objectification theory (Moradi, 2010) conceptualizes racism as a socialization experience that shapes women of color's objectification experiences, yet limited research has examined this theoretical assertion. The present study proposed and examined a racially expanded model of objectification theory that postulated perceived racial discrimination, perpetual foreigner racism, and racial/ethnic teasing as correlates of Asian American college women's (N = 516) self-objectification processes and eating disorder symptomatology. Perceived racial discrimination, perpetual foreigner racism, and racial/ethnic teasing were indirectly associated with eating disordered symptomatology through self-objectification processes of internalization of media ideals of beauty (media internalization), body surveillance, and body shame. Results support the inclusion of racial stressors as contexts of objectification for Asian American women. The present findings also underscore perceived racial discrimination, racial/ethnic teasing, and perpetual foreigner racism as group-specific risk factors with major theoretical, empirical, and clinical relevance to eating disorder research and treatment with Asian American college women. (PsycINFO Database Record

Far from fairness: Prejudice, skin color, and psychological functioning in Asian Americans.

OBJECTIVES: We explored the moderating role of observed skin color in the association between prejudice and concurrent and lagged psychological functioning (i.e., depression, ingroup/outgroup psychological connectedness). We further aimed to understand gender differences in these processes. METHOD: Data from 821 Asian American undergraduate students (57.5% female and 42.5% male) were drawn from the National Longitudinal Survey of Freshman. Cross-sectional and longitudinal regression-based moderation models were conducted with PROCESS 2.13 for SPSS. RESULTS: Lighter skin color nullified the association between prejudice and recent depression for Asian American females. This moderating effect did not hold over time with regards to depression symptoms 1 year later. Additionally, prejudice predicted psychological distance to other Asian students 1 year later among females rated as lighter in skin color, whereas prejudice was tied to psychological closeness for females with darker skin ratings. CONCLUSIONS: Results highlight skin color as a pertinent factor relevant to the short-term and long-term mental health and social experiences of Asian American women in particular. (PsycINFO Database Record

"What are you?" Multiracial individuals' responses to racial identification inquiries.

OBJECTIVES: Guided by a racial microaggression framework and utilizing a mixed-method approach, this study explores multiracial individuals' interpersonal experiences and perceptions of racial identification inquiries--queries directed toward them as others attempt to determine their racial background (e.g., "What are you?"). METHODS: As part of an online study, multiracial college students (n = 40) were presented with a hypothetical situation in which racial identification inquiries were delivered by a White, racial minority, or racially unspecified communicator. Qualitative analyses identified the categories and thematic codes of participants' open-ended explanations of the personal relevance of these hypothetical situations and proposed endings. Nonparametric tests examined differences in situation, affect, and communication partner ratings based on race of the communicator. RESULTS: Findings affirmed that racial identification inquiries are commonly reported by diverse multiracial individuals (92.5% of the present sample). Qualitative coding of participants' explanations of personal relevance and proposed endings for the hypothetical situations, as well as ratings of situation, affect, and communication partner, revealed both positive and negative characterizations ascribed to racial identification inquiry experiences. Participants who imagined the queries came from a White communicator allotted less time to continuing the conversation than those in the control condition (communicator race unspecified). CONCLUSIONS: A racial microaggression framework was relevant but not sufficient in reflecting the complex nature of racial identification inquiries for multiracial individuals. The insights into multiracial individuals' perceptions of these stimuli encourage more critical and dynamic thinking about racial categorization systems and interpersonal racial processes for this underrepresented but growing population.

Energy drink consumption and later alcohol use among early adolescents.

INTRODUCTION: Little is known about the association between energy drink and other substance use in early adolescence despite the fact that the consumption of energy drinks during this developmental period is becoming increasingly common. The aim of this study was to examine concurrent and longitudinal associations between energy drink and alcohol use among middle school students. In addition, sensation seeking and parental monitoring were examined as factors that could potentially explain any associations found. METHODS: A sample of 144 youth participating in the Camden Youth Development Study was utilized. Self-report questionnaire data was collected over a 16-month period. RESULTS: Frequency of energy drink use at the initial assessment predicted increases in frequency of alcohol use 16 months later (adjusting for initial frequency of alcohol use). Levels of parental monitoring partially accounted for this association; in contrast, there was no evidence that sensation seeking was related to this association. CONCLUSION: Youth who consume energy drinks in early adolescence are at risk for alcohol use later; this may be partially related to low levels of parental monitoring being associated with the consumption of both substances. Future research is needed to further explain this association; this may lead to opportunities for early intervention for youth at high risk for alcohol use.