Gender differences in university community belongingness and eating disorder pathology among Muslim students.

OBJECTIVE: University belongingness may influence onset, severity, and recovery of eating disorder (EDs). This may be important for Muslim students, who are at higher risk for mental health problems. PARTICIPANTS: Muslim college students from the 2021-2022 Healthy Minds Study (HMS; N = 908) completed a screen for ED symptoms and questions on university community belongingness. METHODS: Logistic regressions were run by gender to ascertain association between university belongingness and positive ED screenings, adjusting for racial trauma. RESULTS: Among women, university belongingness was a protective factor: 1 unit increase in belonging reflected 7% decrease in odds of positive ED screening. Among men, university belongingness was a risk factor: 1 unit increase in belonging score reflected 9% increase in odds of positive ED screening. CONCLUSIONS: Findings add to research on EDs in this understudied population. University belongingness among Muslim women could buffer against ED symptoms. Findings for men require further investigation about why this was linked to EDs.