Research suggests that eating disorders can pose a threat to young adult women's health and adjustment because they are associated with negative health outcomes such as infertility and high rates of suicide. More specifically, several studies have examined behavioral symptoms of eating disorders in ethnic minority populations and found that Black women are less likely than White women to report vomiting but are more likely to report binge eating (uncontrollable eating due to shame, embarrassment, and distress) (Striegel-Moore & Smolak, 2000). The purpose of the current study is to explore the relationship between binge eating and coping strategies among Black women, specifically how identity centrality might moderate the relationship between the variables. 67 Black/African American women, aged 18-35 years old, completed an online survey. It is hypothesized that coping and binge eating are negatively correlated and we hypothesize that identity centrality positively buffers the association between coping and binge eating. The results of this study can raise health care providers' awareness about how racial and gender identity can shape body image among Black women.
