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

Arbeitspapier

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.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: IZA Discussion Papers ; No. 7512

Classification and Topics

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

Contributors, Places and Time

• 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

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/80573
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:44 AM CET