4 - (SYM 45) Preliminary Associations Among Food Insecurity, Internalized Weight Stigma, and Purging in College Women

           Individuals with household food insecurity, especially women, are at heightened risk for mental health problems. In particular, research shows women with food insecurity experience disordered eating, including purging behaviors (e.g., self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives and diuretics), at concerning levels. However, the mechanisms underlying the relationship between food insecurity and purging remain understudied. Internalized weight stigma (IWS), which occurs when negative stereotypes about weight are applied to oneself, may influence the relationship between food insecurity and purging. IWS is associated with disordered eating and elevated among women with food insecurity. It is possible that the joint effect of food insecurity and IWS increase vulnerability to purging, especially among college women who are at high risk for both food insecurity and disordered eating. We investigated cross-sectional relations among food insecurity, IWS, and purging in n = 202 undergraduate women (M (SD) age = 19.33 (1.33) years, 16.8% with household food insecurity before arriving to college) assessed in August 2022. Measures included the hunger vital sign to assess household food insecurity status (present or absent), the Eating Pathology Symptoms Inventory (EPSI) subscales to assess eating pathology, and the Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire, to assess IWS. Preliminary bivariate correlation analyses revealed significant associations between food insecurity and the EPSI Purging subscale, but no other EPSI subscales. We conducted a linear regression analysis with EPSI Purging specified as the outcome variable, and food insecurity status, IWS, and the product of food insecurity status and IWS as predictors. Food insecurity was independently associated with greater EPSI Purging (β = 0.16, p < .01). In addition, and in support of our hypothesis, the association between food insecurity and purging was stronger at higher levels of IWS (β = 0.27, p < .001). Results provide support for IWS as a moderator in the relationship between food insecurity and purging behavior. Longitudinal research is needed to uncover the directionality of relations between food insecurity, purging, and IWS. Clinical efforts to address IWS in women with food insecurity may be useful in preventing or reducing purging behaviors.