Associations of Racial Trauma Symptoms With Positive Eating Disorder Screens Among US Young Adults in the Healthy...

Racial trauma, defined as the psychological and physiological harm caused by racism and racial discrimination, has been associated with mental health problems. Although traumatic experiences have consistently and robustly been associated with eating disorders, it is unknown whether racial trauma is associated with eating disorders. This study examined the link between racial trauma symptoms and positive eating disorder screens using a large, population-based sample of US college students.

Cross-sectional data came from young adults (18-30 years) in the 2022-2023 Healthy Minds Study (n = 57,439). Associations between racial trauma symptoms and positive eating disorder screens (SCOFF ≥ 2) were examined using modified Poisson regression models adjusted for age, sex, race-ethnicity, and financial situation growing up. Associations were examined among the overall sample and then stratified by race-ethnicity and sex.

Nearly one-third (31.7%) of the sample screened positive for an eating disorder. Among the overall sample, racial trauma symptoms were associated with positive eating disorder screens (prevalence ratio [PR]: 1.58; 95% CI: 1.51, 1.66). This association was stronger for males than females among the whole sample (interaction p < 0.001) and among most races and ethnicities. The association of racial trauma with positive eating disorder screens was strongest for Non-Hispanic Black individuals (PR: 2.08; 95% CI: 1.75, 2.48), with about equal magnitude for males and females.

Racial trauma symptoms may be a modifiable risk factor for eating disorders to target in treatment and prevention efforts across races and ethnicities, with particular relevance for non-Hispanic Black young adults.