The role of cultural values and religion on views of body size and eating practices among adolescents from Fiji, Tonga, and Australia. (27th September 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McCabe, Marita P.; Waqa, Gade; Dev, Anjileena; Cama, Tilema; Swinburn, Boyd A.
• Is Part Of: British journal of health psychology. Volume 18:Part 2(2013)
• Page Start: 383
• Page End: 394
• Publication Date: 2012-09-27
• Subjects: Clinical health psychology -- Periodicals; 613.019
• DOI: 10.1111/j.2044-8287.2012.02090.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-107X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="bjhp2090-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="bjhp2090-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objectives</title> <p>This study investigated cultural values related to body image and eating practices in Western and non‐Western societies.</p> </sec> <sec id="bjhp2090-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Design and Methods</title> <p>In total, 628 Fijian, 463 Indo‐Fijian, 598 Tongan, and 534 Australian adolescents completed measures of cultural values and religious influences in relation to the ideal body and eating practices.</p> </sec> <sec id="bjhp2090-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Fijian and Tongan adolescents were more likely to value a large body. Religious influences were most strongly associated with eating practices for Fijians, Indo‐Fijians, and Tongans.</p> </sec> <sec id="bjhp2090-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>The findings support the role of religion in transmitting cultural values regarding eating practices in Pacific Island communities.</p> </sec> <sec id="bjhp2090-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Statement of contribution</title> <p> <italic> <bold>What is already known on this subject?</bold> </italic> </p> <p> <list list-type="bullet"> <list-item> <p>Previous research has demonstrated that sociocultural factors shape body image and eating behaviours.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>Most of this research has been conducted in Western countries.</p> </list-item> </list> </p> <p> <italic> <bold>What does this study add?</bold> </italic> </p> <p> <list list-type="bullet"> <list-item> <p>The current study identifies the role of cultural values and religious influences on body image and eating behaviours in a number of different cultural groups.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>This is the first study to use the same methodology to explore these relationships across Western and Pacific Island communities.</p> </list-item> </list> </p> </sec> </abstract>