Examining the indirect effects of multiracial identity invalidation on mindful eating and intuitive exercise via positive embodiment in age-diverse Black-White multiracial women

Bibliographic Data

ID22427583
AuthorsSophie Pringle (University of North Carolina at Charlotte), J B Webb (0000-0002-6033-5844, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, corresponding author), V Gil-Rivas (University of North Carolina at Charlotte), Candace S Brown (0000-0001-6102-7483, University of North Carolina at Charlotte)
Year2026
Volume57
Pages102104
Publication date2026-06-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueBody Image (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1740-1445 • E-ISSN: 1873-6807
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.bodyim.2026.102104
PMID42142514
OpenAlexW7161384039
LanguageEN
References cited40

Black-White (B/W) multiracial women represent one of the fastest-growing demographics in the United States and are at increased risk of mental health concerns due to their historical connection to racism in combination with other multiracial stressors. However, despite the growing multiracial population and the known increased health risks among this group, there remains little understanding of how sociocultural and contextual factors are related to their experiences of eating, exercise, and embodiment. Therefore, the study investigated the relationships among mindful eating (ME), intuitive exercise (IExS), racial identity invalidation (RII), and positive embodiment, as well as examined the indirect effects of multiracial identity invalidation on mindfulness-based approaches to eating and exercise via positive embodiment experiences in a sample of N = 306 cisgender, B/W multiracial women ( M Age = 33.8; Range = 18–61). Participants completed an online survey through Prolific assessing demographics, RII, ME behaviors, IExS, and experiences of embodiment. Pearson’s correlations demonstrated positive relationships between positive embodiment and both ME and IExS. Inverse associations were observed between positive embodiment and RII. No significant associations emerged between RII and ME or IExS. The indirect effects of RII on both ME and IExS via positive embodiment were significant ( p < .01). Findings contribute to the scant literature centering multiracial women’s health, recognizing discriminatory stressors and experiences of positive embodiment as important correlates of health practices. Results call for multi-systemic, culturally-tailored interventions to effectively bolster engagement in mindfulness-based wellness-promoting practices among B/W multiracial women in support of strengthening their embodied well-being.

Ethnically diverse · Perception · Self-concept · Young adult · Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions · Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction · Racial and Ethnic Identity Research

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