Investigating Vulnerability for Developing Eating Disorders in a Multi-Confessional Lebanese Sample

Purpose: The present study aimed to examine the vulnerability to eating disorders (ED) among 949 Lebanese female young adults as well as its association with stress, anxiety, depression, body image dissatisfaction (BID), dysfunctional eating, body mass index, religious affiliation (being Christian, Muslim or Druze), religiosity and activity level.

Methods: A descriptive, correlational cross-sectional design was used. A total of 949 female college students (18-25 year-old) completed a self-reported survey in fall 2013 at the Lebanese American University which accommodates the cultural and religious diversity of the country.

Results: Results showed that anxiety had the greatest effect on increasing the predisposition to ED, followed by stress level, BID, depression and restrained eating. Being Christian was found to significantly decrease the vulnerability to developing an ED.  Furthermore, the interaction of anxiety with intrinsic religiosity was found to have a protective role on reducing ED.

Conclusion: The current study adds to the body of literature about ED by identifying the major factors that are linked to ED vulnerability in female young adults. Particularly, the present results emphasize a buffering role of intrinsic religiosity against anxiety and ED vulnerability.