Honors Theses
Date of Award
Fall 12-9-2024
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Nutrition and Hospitality Management
First Advisor
Melinda Valliant
Second Advisor
Georgianna Mann Schroeder
Third Advisor
Amy McDowell
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
Existing research on eating disorders and religion is beginning to gain momentum in the present day, but research is lacking on the topic of religious coping and eating disorder risk. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between two known styles of religious coping—positive and negative—and eating disorder risk in University of Mississippi students, faculty, and staff who identify as Christian. A survey consisting of basic demographic questions, the EAT-26, and the Brief RCOPE was distributed via emails sent by the office of IREP to students, faculty, and staff at the University of Mississippi. A total of 330 participants were included in this study. The data were analyzed using the SPSS version 29 using the Kendall tau b and Mann Whitney U tests. Results showed no statistically significant relationship between positive religious coping and total EAT-26 scores, but there was a very weak, though significant relationship with negative religious coping. When looking at ED risk (dichotomous), negative religious coping was significant. When controlling for gender, there was no difference found in positive religious coping scores in either males or females, but females had significantly greater negative religious coping scores and ED risk than males. This study shows that the presence of negative religious coping in individuals, especially females, might be connected to eating disorder risk, but further research needs to be done to validate whether negative religious coping is a risk factor for eating disorder development.
Recommended Citation
Aubuchon, Meghan E., "The Relationship Between Religious Coping Styles and Eating Disorder Risk in Christians in a University Setting" (2024). Honors Theses. 3197.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/3197
Creative Commons License
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Included in
Clinical Psychology Commons, Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Commons, Other Psychology Commons, Sociology of Religion Commons
