The purpose of this research is to investigate risk factors associated with binge-eating disorder among racialized communities living in the United States such as those from Latinx, African American, and Native American backgrounds. I will do this by exploring how existing literature has examined the risk factors of binge eating disorder (BED) and similar binge-eating behaviors among racialized communities living in the United States. My research question asks: What are the primary risk factors for BED and similar binge-eating behaviors among racialized communities? The hypothesis: One of the primary risk factors for BED and similar binge-eating behaviors among racialized communities includes exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)

Following Smith, LaFrance, & Dovidio’s (2017) urge for researchers to consider race, gender and emotion simultaneously, in this study we examine the combined influence of gender and race on emotion stereotypes. Existing literature focuses on how emotions are perceived based on either a target person’s race or their gender. However, our research uses an intersectional lens to evaluate the effects of the combined influence of race and gender. Intersectionality accounts for the impact of an individual’s multiple and intersecting identities, thereby creating different experiences for those at various social locations (Crenshaw 1989). Although some people are assumed to hold more marginalized identities, there are aspects of both power and oppression for each identity held. Thus, a white woman may hold some degree of power as a white person, but may hold less power as a woman. We use a modified version of Timmers and colleagues (2003) survey to capture respondents’ attitudes about emotion stereotypes. In this study (N=193) respondents rated the extent to which they agree with different beliefs regarding the emotional behaviors of (Black or white) men and women. We find that participants hold more stereotypical views about the emotions of white women and men than of black women and men. These findings add to the increasing calls to consider the intersectional impact of both race and gender on emotions.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought on many changes to what we once labeled our normal everyday lives. Wearing face masks and facing personal apprehension if we are less than six feet away from someone has now become the new “normal” for many. These precautions were put in place to keep us as a country safe from acquiring the SARS-CoV-2 virus, however there are downsides associated with these new safety measures. The aim of this study is to observe the different ways that the coronavirus pandemic has affected multicultural populations of the PNW campus community in regards to lifestyle related behaviors that directly influence physical and mental health, and overall well-being. In this study, we will take a quantitative approach using a Qualtrics survey. Our population will be students and staff of the PNW community, who will be asked a series of lifestyle related questions pertaining to before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey consists of 24 primary questions about dietary practices, physical activity, screen time, sleep habits, and the use of cigarettes and alcohol. The results of the survey will be quantified and compared across the following four ethnic categories: African American, Latino/a, Caucasian, and other. We expect that minority ethnic groups will be found to have faced a higher number of adverse lifestyle health consequences than Caucasians. Our study is currently in review with the Purdue University Institutional Review Board (IRB-2021-914). We expect to be able to quickly gain participants once the study is approved by the IRB.