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Article
Holy anorexia: Eating disorders symptomatology and religiosity among Muslim women in the United Arab Emirates
Psychiatry Research
  • Justin Thomas, Zayed University
  • Lily O'Hara, Abu Dhabi University
  • Sabrina Tahboub-Schulte, American University of Sharjah
  • Ian Grey, Zayed University
  • Nayeefa Chowdhury, Zayed University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-1-2018
Abstract

© 2017 Elsevier B.V. There is a substantial body of literature reporting a negative association between religiosity and psychiatric symptoms. In the context of eating disorders, however, this relationship appears to be reversed. The few studies exploring the relationship between religiosity and eating disorders have mostly focused on the Judeo-Christian religious traditions in Western nations. The present study examines this relationship among Muslim college women from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). All participants (N = 1069) independently completed the religious commitment inventory (RCI-10) and the eating attitudes test (EAT-26). As hypothesised, there was a positive association between religiosity and eating disorders symptoms. Furthermore, those scoring above the EAT-26 cut-off reported significantly greater levels of religiosity. These findings suggest that heightened religiosity among young Emirati women may represent a vulnerability factor for eating disorders. Preventative initiatives in the UAE should consider focusing on religiosity.

Publisher
Elsevier Ireland Ltd
Disciplines
Keywords
  • Eating disorder,
  • Muslim,
  • Religion,
  • United Arab Emirates
Scopus ID
85039738361
Indexed in Scopus
Yes
Open Access
No
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2017.11.082
Citation Information
Justin Thomas, Lily O'Hara, Sabrina Tahboub-Schulte, Ian Grey, et al.. "Holy anorexia: Eating disorders symptomatology and religiosity among Muslim women in the United Arab Emirates" Psychiatry Research Vol. 260 (2018) p. 495 - 499 ISSN: <a href="https://v2.sherpa.ac.uk/id/publication/issn/0165-1781" target="_blank">0165-1781</a>
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/justin-thomas28211/59/