Scientists at University of California publish new data on eating disorders.(Report)

According to recent research published in the Journal of American College Health, "The authors evaluated the validity of familial enmeshment (extreme proximity in family relationships) its a risk factor for eating disorders across Cultural value orientations. They tested the hypothesis that although familial enmeshment may be a risk factor for eating disorder pathology for (1) participants of non-Asian descent or (2) culturally independent participants, enmeshment will not be a risk factor for (1) participants of Asian descent or (2) culturally interdependent participants."

"255 undergraduate women participated. Participants completed questionnaires on cultural value orientations, enmeshment, and eating disorder pathology. As hypothesized, enmeshment was related to eating disorder pathology in non-Asian American and culturally independent participants, but not in Asian American and culturally interdependent participants. Depending on Cultural values, enmeshment may or may not be a risk factor for eating disorders," wrote A.J. Tomiyama and colleagues, University of ...