4 - (SYM 58) University Community Belongingness as a Buffer for Eating Pathology in Female Muslim University Students

Abstract Body
While there is limited research on the protective factors for eating disorders (EDs), traits such as body appreciation, connectedness with nature, supportive family relationships, and feminist influences are known to be associated with lower risk of developing EDs (Levine and Smolak, 2015; Sundgot-Borgen et al., 2022). Even less is known about protective factors for religious minority groups. Some studies found that wearing the hijab and Islamic veiling was associated with lower body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness, social physique anxiety, internalization of the thin and muscular ideals, and pressure to attain ideals from peers and the media (Rastmanesh, Gluck, and Shadman, 2008; Kertechian & Swami, 2017). The present study examines university community belongingness as a protective factor for ED symptoms in Muslim college students (N = 1190) using data from the 2021-2022 Healthy Minds Study (HMS). The HMS, sent out to 135 American colleges and universities between September 2022 and June 2023, is an annual online survey that provides information about mental health and related issues in college students. Participants completed the SCOFF questionnaire (Morgan et al., 2000), a screening measure for EDs, and three questions on university community belongingness. The SCOFF was coded such that scores of two or greater indicated a probable ED. The belongingness questions were summed to create a total belongingness score, with higher scores indicating greater sense of university belongingness. Logistic regressions were run for male and female Muslim students to ascertain the association of university belongingness and probable ED status adjusting for race. Results showed that, among women (N = 375), university belongingness was a protective factor, such that a 1 unit increase in participants’ belonging score reflected a 7.3% decrease in ED probability (B = -0.076, SE = 0.034, p = 0.025, OR = 0.927, 95% CI = 0.868, 0.990) . Contrary to expectations, among men (N = 213), university belongingness was a risk factor, such that a 1 unit increase in participants’ belonging score reflected a 10.6 % increase in ED probability (B = -1.390, SE = 0.120, p = 0.18, OR = 1.107, 95% CI = 1.019, 1.204). Results suggest the importance of improving university belongingness for Muslim women students as a means of buffering against ED symptoms. However, findings regarding university belongingness as a risk factor for men require replication and further investigation to understand why this form of connectedness may be linked to EDs in this group.