Claire Guidinger – Undergraduate Research Symposium Abstracts

Ethnic Variations in Asian and Asian American Men’s Disordered Eating Symptoms

Presenter: Kevin Le – Human Physiology

Faculty Mentor(s): Claire Guidinger, Nichole Kelly

Session: (In-Person) Poster Presentation

Asian and Asian American men report high rates of disordered eating symptoms, such as body dissatisfaction. Some have hypothesized that these behaviors are a consequence of being stereotyped as petite, more feminine, and less attractive that their non-Asian peers. However, this theoretical and empirical research fails to recognize that there are substantial ethnic variations in both body sizes and cultural ideals among diverse Asian/Asian American populations. This study aimed to identify and clarify potential ethnic variations in Asian/Asian American men’s disordered eating symptoms. 179 Asian/Asian American men (18-30y; Mage=24.03±3.6) completed an online study that included measures of ethnic identity; height and weight; LOC eating (0 = absent, 1 = present); dieting; excessive exercise; body image concerns; and drive for muscularity. Ethnic subgroups included men who self-identified as Chinese (n = 59), Filipino (n = 33), Korean (n = 21), Vietnamese (n = 25), and Indian (n = 41). One-way ANOVAS indicated Asian ethnic subgroups only significantly differed in concerns with muscularity [F(4, 174) = 2.65, p<.05]. Post Hoc findings indicated that Filipino men endorsed significantly higher muscularity concerns compared to Vietnamese men, p<.05. Future research should seek to identify cultural factors that function as both risk and protective factors for disordered eating cognitions and behaviors in Filipino men, as well as other groups of Asian/Asian American men.

How the COVID-19 Pandemic Affected Rural Children’s Mental Health and Body Image.

Presenter(s): Juliana Esquivel — Human Physiology

Co-Presenter(s): Lauren Michels

Faculty Mentor(s): Claire Guidinger, Nichole Kelly

Session: (In-Person) Poster Presentation

The COVID-19 pandemic has had negative effect on children’s mental health, especially as they lost social connections transitioning from in-person education to remote learning. This study sought to better understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in a sample of rural Oregon children. We hypothesized that during height of the COVID-19 pandemic, children would report increased social dissatisfaction and loneliness (SDL), depression, and anxiety, and decreased body appreciation. This study included secondary analyses from a federally funded clinical trial on rural Oregon children’s health (R21HD094661 NICHD). Children filled out surveys in-person pre-COVID-19 and remotely during COVID-19 (February-April 2021) as a follow-up assessment. Paired samples t-tests compared children’s mental health pre-pandemic and during the pandemic. When comparing pre- pandemic and pandemic mental health, there were no statistically significant differences in children’s SDL, anxiety, and body appreciation (p’s>.05). There was a statistically significant difference in children’s depressive symptoms pre- (M = 0.32, SD =.18) and during the pandemic (M = .92, SD = .11). Children endorsed feeling more depressed during the COVID-19 pandemic, t(33) = 15.08, p<.001, d = .23. Given the observed increase in depressive symptoms in our sample, mental health resources in elementary schools should become more available as children now face transitioning back into a post-pandemic world.

Association between Discrimination and Drive for Muscularity in Asian and Asian American Men

Presenter: Jasmine Acree − Human Physiology

Faculty Mentor(s): Dr. Nichole Kelly, Claire Guidinger

(In-Person) Poster Presentation

Asian/Asian American men endorse amongst the highest rates of body dissatisfaction across racial groups. However, little research has been conducted on how experiences with race-related discrimination are connected to Asian men’s body image and related behaviors. It was hypothesized that experiences with race-related discrimination would be associated with the greater drive for muscularity, and that this association would be stronger amongst those with greater internalization of the Western masculine body ideal. Participants completed an online survey answering questions regarding their demographics, experiences with racism, drive for muscularity, and internalization of muscularity and thinness appearance ideals. The primary results showed that there was a significant, positive link between Asian/Asian American men’s experiences with both racism and microaggressions and the drive for muscularity, B’s=2.10-2.21, p’s<.001. Internalization of the thinness and muscularity appearance ideals functioned as moderators for both experiences with racism and microaggressions, with differential exacerbating and mitigating influences (B =-.17-.24, p’s<.001). Importantly, Asian/Asian American men who experienced high microaggressions and had higher internalization of the thinness ideal endorsed the most severe drive for muscularity, p<.001. These findings indicate that experiences with discrimination can lead to increased harmful behaviors aimed at achieving Western masculine body ideals.

Associations of Adherence to Exercise Dependence Symptoms in Asian/Asian American Men

Presenter(s): Shijing Zhou

Co Presenter(s): Kylie Rothhouse

Faculty Mentor(s): Nichole Kelly & Claire Guidinger

Poster 123

Session: Social Sciences & Humanities

Exercise dependence (ED) symptoms, which can be conceptualized as a complex pattern of excessive exercise behaviors, have been shown to be more prevalent in males than females. Preliminary data suggest that Asian/Asian American men frequently endorse ED symptoms. However, the sociocultural correlates of ED symptoms in this population are understudied. The purpose of this study was to examine whether Asian cultural values were associated with ED symptoms in Asian/Asian American men. Internalization of both muscularity and thinness appearance ideals were examined as potential moderators. We hypothesized that men who endorsed greater adherence to Asian cultural values would report more ED symptoms. We also hypothesized that greater internalization of both muscularity and thinness appearance ideals would exacerbate this positive association. The present sample consisted of 266 Asian/Asian American men between 18-30 years. The mean age was 24.4 and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 24.2 kg/m2. Participants completed an online survey that assessed demographic information, ED symptoms, adherence to Asian cultural values, and internalization of both muscularity and thinness appearance ideals. All analyses adjusted for BMI, education, income, and presence of a psychiatric diagnosis. Multiple linear regression models indicated that adherence to Asian cultural values was significantly and positively associated with ED symptoms. Men who reported greater adherence to Asian cultural values reported more ED symptoms, p<.05. Neither internalization of muscular nor thinness appearance ideals moderated this association. These findings highlight the importance of considering cultural factors in our investigations of ED symptoms and related pathology in men.

Sidebar