Arbeitspapier

The Effect of Sorority Membership on Eating Disorders and Body Mass Index

Eating disorders affect 12-25% of college women. Previous research established a positive correlation between sorority membership and eating disorders. We investigate a possible causal link between sororities and weight-related behaviors and eating disorders using data from the American College Health Association. Using Propensity Score Matching and Instrumental Variable methods, we confirm that sororities exert a negative effect on the weight-related behaviors of their members. However, females who are more resilient to these outcomes self-select into sororities, implying that females in sororities are less adversely affected by them than a female who was randomly selected to join a sorority would be.

Language
Englisch

Bibliographic citation
Series: IZA Discussion Papers ; No. 7512

Classification
Wirtschaft
Health Behavior
Health: Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
Subject
obesity
underweight
BMI
sorority
anorexia
bulimia
eating disorders
weight control

Event
Geistige Schöpfung
(who)
Averett, Susan
Terrizzi, Sabrina
Yang Wang Terrizzi, Sabrina
Event
Veröffentlichung
(who)
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA)
(where)
Bonn
(when)
2013

Handle
Last update
10.03.2025, 11:44 AM CET

Data provider

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Object type

  • Arbeitspapier

Associated

  • Averett, Susan
  • Terrizzi, Sabrina
  • Yang Wang Terrizzi, Sabrina
  • Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA)

Time of origin

  • 2013

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