The hijab as a protective factor for body image and disordered eating: a replication in French Muslim women

• Published in: Mental health, religion & culture Vol. 19; no. 10; pp. 1056 - 1068
• Main Authors: Kertechian, Sevag K., Swami, Viren
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Routledge 25-11-2016; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Body image; Bulimia; disordered eating; Eating disorders; France; Headgear; Hijab; Islamic headcover; Muslims; Religious clothing; Self image; Women
• ISSN: 1367-4676; 1469-9737
• DOI: 10.1080/13674676.2017.1312322

We examined differences in body image and disordered eating between Muslim women who do and do not wear the hijab in France, a nation marked by religious-based sartorial censorship. In an online survey, 450 French Muslim women completed measures of hijab use, weight discrepancy, disordered eating, body image-related constructs, religiosity, perceived support from Allah, and perceived discrimination. Controlling for religiosity and support from Allah, women who wore the hijab reported significantly lower weight discrepancy, body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness, social physique anxiety, internalisation of the thin and muscular ideals, and pressure to attain ideals from peers and the media, though they also reported significantly higher perceived discrimination than those who did not wear the hijab. Further analyses showed that use of the hijab was significantly associated with weight discrepancy and disordered eating. Our results suggest that use of the hijab may offer a protective element for French Muslim women.