“She Does Not Want Me to Be Like Her”: Exploring the Role of Maternal Communication in Eating Disorder Symptomatology Among Collegiate Black Women

Abstract

As an agent of socialization, mothers directly impact the way their daughters think about their own weight. This qualitative study aimed to investigate and capture the recalled maternal communication around eating and body image for Black American collegiate emerging adult women. A sample of 143 women was recruited via online social platforms. Findings from framework analysis highlighted that maternal communication around body image, size, and eating disorders was often in reaction to the daughters’ direct or indirect experiences with eating disorder symptomatology. The communication was problem focused, with an aim to address symptoms. The communication also centered on body evaluation and comparison responses, which often emphasized negative sentiments regarding both the mother and the daughter’s body image. Understanding the dynamic exchange of socialization for body image and eating disorder symptomatology is critical when creating culturally tailored, client-centered, and sustainable treatment plans.

Keywords:

• Black or African American
• collegiate women
• eating disorders
• maternal socialization