6: Discussion
6.3 Central findings
6.3.6 The SAAS subscales
The SAAS was administered in order to assess the degree of homogeneity within the sample with regard to the choice of acculturation strategies (as suggested by Olmedo, Martinez& Martinez, 1978; cited in Franco, 1983). No significant differences were observed across culture for the assimilation strategy, suggesting a degree of homogeneity within the sample regarding the choice of assimilation strategies to acculturation. Whites displayed significantly lower Integration scores than Blacks, Indians and Coloureds.
A Rejection strategy of acculturation was favoured primarily by Blacks and Whites. No significant linear trends emerged on the acculturation scale (as described in Section 4.2). This finding was expected in light of other research which suggests that individuals differ in the degree to which they participate in acculturation phenomenon (Berryet al., 1986). Individuals within groups and between groups are likely to select a particular strategy to acculturation individually suited to them. Of greater importance to the current study is the degree to which particular strategies of acculturation correlate with eating disorder pathology.
6.3.6.1 Relationship to disordered eating behaviours and attitudes
Correlations for the SAAS and the EDI subscales in the entire sample (N=155) demonstrated significant positive correlations for assimilationinfive ofthe eight EDI subscales (see Table 23).
This finding provides support for Hypothesis 3. However, when the correlations were repeated for younger White and Black respondents (Table 24), significant correlations were found for only two of the EDI subscales. This finding may be explained statistically by the reduced numbers in the younger Black and White sample; alternatively, Indians, Coloureds and older Black respondents may account for the majority of eating pathology for the assimilation strategy of acculturation.
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Thus, Hypothesis 3 received partial support in the sense that assimilation strategies were generally associated with eating disordered attitudes and behaviours, although this correlation was found to be much weaker for younger White and Black respondents. Several researchers have reported significant associations between acculturation and disordered eating (Pumariega, 1986; Stuart, 1996; Haynes, 1996). Direct comparisons between these studies and the current study are complicated by the use of different instruments for the measurement of acculturation.
Winship (1996) observed no significant relationship between,acculturation and disordered eating, although this finding is qualified by her assertion that the measures of acculturation employed were problematic.
Itis interesting to observe that Assimilation did not correlate with Drive for Thinness, or Body Dissatisfactionon the EDI (Table 23). This result is unexpected if one considers the hypothesised role of sociocultural factors in the development of eating disorder pathology, as well as the hypothesised links between acculturation and general psychopathology (Berry et al., 1986).
Drive for Thinnessand Body Dissatisfaction should hypothetically demonstrate an association with acculturation due to the internalisation of "Western" bodily ideals, or the preservation of traditional norms for beauty (in which case a negative correlation should be observed). Winship (1996) speculates that acculturative stress arising from assimilation may manifest initially in the psychological aspects of disordered eating, with a later evolution to the more obvious forms of disordered eating (demonstrated by elevated Drivefor Thinness and Body Dissatisfaction scores).
Longitudinal research assessing the course of eating disorder pathology in acculturating groups
would be valuable in clarifying this assertion.
In younger White respondents, Drive for Thinness correlated negatively with all of the acculturation subscales (Table 24). This was an unexpected finding in the sense thatRejection in Whites should hypothetically correlate positively withDrive for Thinness, if one assumes that the majority of Whites in South Africa can be described as following a "Western" culture, wich stresses sociocultural norms for thinness and beauty. This finding is inexplicable without further research. However, it is qualified by the possibility that the SAAS is measuring different·
constructs for Whites than for Blacks. Younger Blacks demonstrated positive correlations
. ..\
between Drive for Thinness in all of the SAAS subscales; providing further anecdotal support for the assertion that Black populations are demonstrating increasing predispositions to the development of disordered eating attitudes and behaviours with acculturation.
For younger Black respondents, Bulimia scores were significantly positively correlated with Assimilation. This may be a reflection of the adoption of "Western" norms for thinness and beauty espoused by the media, juxtaposed on a traditional cultural system which places value on larger body shapes. Rejection correlated negatively (although not significantly) with Bulimia in younger Blacks, which may be a function of sustained traditional cultural discourses around beauty which place value on larger body shapes in Blacks, and act as protective mechanisms to the development of disordered eating in this population.
Ineffectiveness was significantly positively correlated with Assimilation for Blacks and non- significantly positively correlated for Whites. This finding provides further support for the hypothesis that assimilation strategies are associated with a greater degree of psychological conflict than integration strategies. This has been proposed elsewhere (Berryet al., 1986; Hooper
& Gamer, 1986; Furnham & Alibhai, 1993).
Generally, assimilation strategies appear to be associated with the greatest eating disordered behaviours and attitudes (Table 23), followed by rejection and integration strategies respectively.
Closer investigation of disordered eating tendencies in younger Whites and Blacks, however, reveals only a weak relationship between assimilation and disordered eating tendencies (Table
24), with a great deal of variation between the SAAS subscales, and no consistent pattern for eating pathology emerging for assimilation strategies. Hence, Hypothesis 3 received only partial support, and requires further investigation. Qualitative research and observation of behavioural correlates to acculturation strategies, and eating attitudes and behaviours may further elucidate the association between acculturation and disordered eating attitudes and behaviours.
6.3.6.2 Additional Findings: Indian and Coloured respondents
Assimilationand Integration means for Coloured and Indian students were within the same range as for Whites and Blacks (Table 19 and Table 20). Indians and Coloureds fell below the means
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for Whites and Blacks regarding Rejection strategies. Theoretically, this implies that the latter populations are relatively less attached to the maintainance of historic cultural discourses than White and Black populations.