Drive to self-starvation : Qualitative exploration of narratives amongst eating disordered immigrant women to the U.S.

The emergence of both eating disorders and ethnic minority populations in the U.S. has created a convergence of diverse individuals suffering from the illness (National Eating Disorders Association, 2006).

However, stereotypes and myths that eating disorder symptoms solely plague White women of upper middle-class affiliation still prevail (Gordon, Perez, & Joiner, 2002).

Researchers have more recently begun to explore eating disorder etiology amongst ethnic groups, and are learning that women from non-western origins including Latin and African cultures, and from such places as China, Japan, India, and Pakistan also suffer from eating disorders (Abdollahi & Mann, 2001; Nakamura, Yamamoto, Yamazaki, Kawashima, Muto, Someya, Sakurai, & Nozoe, 2000).

Numerous theories about self-starvation ranging from psychological, medical, religious, family systems, socio-cultural, and feminist frameworks have been proposed by experts and theorists.

Yet few studies have explored the perspectives of immigrant women, and their contextual experiences around their rationales for food refusal.

This study evaluated numerous theories around drive to self-starvation, and then utilized a grounded theory qualitative research methodology to guide data collection and analysis with an emphasis on generating theory from the data.

The research captured the voices and perspectives of 10 anorexic ethnic immigrant subjects living in the U.S. from India, Iran, Russia, Columbia, China, Puerto Rico, U.K. and Guyana. Several complex categories emerged from in-depth interviews.

A theory of separation and connection revealed that participants appeared to struggle with their self-identity as it related to their new world transitional experiences, and their relationship to their cultural roots following their newfound anorexic identity.

Results of this study will invite new research possibilities for areas of future study, and increase the efficacy of clinical practice with diverse eating disordered populations in the U.S.