Factors associated with self-identification of an eating disorder history among Latinas meeting criteria for past or current eating disorders.

OBJECTIVE

This paper compared Latinas who self-identified as having had an eating disorder (ED) with those who did not (despite both groups meeting criteria for an ED history) on ED pathology and mental health stigma.

METHOD

Seventy-seven Latinas completed an online survey.

RESULTS

All 77 participants met criteria for lifetime EDs, and 92% met current criteria for an ED; however, 47% did not report having an ED history vs. 53% did report an ED history. There was no difference on binge eating frequency. Those who endorsed an ED history engaged in more compensatory behaviors, had higher EAT-26 scores, and were less fearful of stigmatization due to seeking mental health treatment. Those reporting an ED history were more likely to have met criteria for anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, generally more recognizable EDs than binge eating disorder and other specified feeding or eating disorders, than those who did not report an ED history.

DISCUSSION

Latinas with certain patterns of eating pathology and those with less fear of being stigmatized due to seeking mental health treatment were more likely to endorse an ED history, which has implications for treatment seeking. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2016; 49:1032-1035).