Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 5, 2025

A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents
Published on: July 10, 2017
Anxiety and eating behaviors: Mediating effect of ethnic identity and acculturation stress
Nelson Hun1, Alfonso Urzúa2, Antonio López-Espinoza3
1Escuela de Psicología, Universidad Católica Del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile; Instituto de Investigaciones en Comportamiento Alimentario y Nutrición (IICAN), Universidad de Guadalajara, Mexico; Escuela de Nutrición y Dietética, Facultad de Salud, Universidad Santo Tomás, Antofagasta, Chile.
Abstract:
Immigration changes the daily dynamics of migrant individuals and communities, as individuals confront new cultures and environments, including new foods and eating styles. Consequent influences on eating behaviors comprise an individual's actions in feeding themself that are conditioned by biological, social, cultural, and psychological factors. Mental health indicators such as anxiety and stress reflect negative impacts of acculturation on migrants' health, but ethnic identity is potentially protective. However, the relationship between these mental health indicators and immigrant populations' eating behaviors have not been addressed. Our objective was to analyze the mediating effects of acculturation stress and ethnic identity on the relationship between anxiety and three dimensions of eating behaviors in Colombian migrants living in Chile. A total of 959 Colombian immigrants participated. Ethnic identity only partially mediated the effect of emotional eating. The other two dimensions had direct effects but no mediating effects. Conversely, acculturation stress and emotional eating partially mediated restrained eating while external intake had a direct effect but no mediation. Anxiety had significant direct effects with all the dimensions analyzed. Ethnic identity score related to a protective effect between anxiety and emotional eating. Stress of acculturation, conversely, was a risk factor in the relationship between anxiety, emotional eating, and restrained eating.
More Related Videos
03:05Influence of Emotional Factors on the Efficacy of Acupuncture Treatment for Overweight Complicated with Hyperlipidemia: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Published on: November 21, 2025
05:15Author Spotlight: Accessible M&M-Based Mouse Model for Investigating Binge Eating Disorder - Insights into Eating Behaviors, Anxiety, and Neural Mechanisms
Published on: January 10, 2025
Related Concept Videos
Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture
Stress and Mental Health
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Self-Discrepancy and Its Effects
Sources of Self-Esteem III: Social Comparison
Psychological Responses to Stress
Anorexia Nervosa
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...