Level of religiosity and disordered eating psychopathology among modern-orthodox Jewish adolescent girls in Israel

Yael Latzer, Tzischinsky Orna, Shira Gefen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective: To examine the relation between level of religiosity, grade level, self-esteem, and level of disordered eating-related psychopathology among Modern Orthodox Jewish adolescent girls in Israel. Method: The sample consisted of 320 Jewish religious adolescent schoolgirls in the 9th to 12th grades of middle and high schools. The girls completed the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2) and the religious questionnaire based on Guttman's instrument. Results: The more religious the student, the less eating-related psychopathology was found. The youngest students (grade 9) were found to be the least religious and to have the highest eating-related psychopathology. Discussion: The results are discussed in terms of the possibility that level of religiosity might to some extent protect adolescent girls against developing body dissatisfaction and disordered eating pathology. A high level of religiosity is associated with less emphasis on the physical attractiveness of women and less pressure for their success and achievement outside the home.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)511-521
Number of pages11
JournalInternational Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health
Volume19
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2007

Keywords

  • Adolescent
  • EDI-2
  • Eating disorders
  • Israel
  • Religion

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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