Cardiovascular disease and diabetes are among the leading causes of death in the United States (NCHS, 2016), making the metabolic syndrome (MetS) an important target for research and intervention. In addition, there seems to be a disproportionate burden of metabolic health concerns on ethnic minority populations in the U.S. More research is needed to discern how psychological, sociodemographic and behavioral factors relate with each other to impact metabolic health outcomes across ethnic groups. Using a comprehensive theoretical model that acknowledges cultural processes as complex and multidimensional, we hypothesized that the relationship between acculturative stressors and health outcomes is in part mediated by maladaptive eating behavior, and that the impact of acculturative stressors on disordered eating is moderated by individuals’ perceived ability to cope. Linear and logistic regression, and conditional process analysis were used to examine study hypotheses in a sample including African Americans, European Americans, and Hispanics (N = 58). Moderated mediation effects were not identified in our study. Still, results suggest that bicultural identity integration harmony is associated with better glucose function, binge eating is associated with poor blood pressure and cholesterol function, and greater coping appraisal is related to less engagement in emotional eating. Other associations were also found which were in the direction opposite of what was hypothesized. Study limitations that may have affected these outcomes are discussed. Future studies should continue to research how acculturative stressors and disordered eating behavior contribute to health concerns.
