Relationships between acculturative stress, internalized weight stigma, and psychological distress among Asian, Black, and Latinx adults

The present study explored the associations between acculturative stress, internalized weight stigma, and psychological distress in a sample of racially diverse U.S. immigrants (n = 200). Linear regression analyses revealed that acculturative stress was a significant predictor of internalized weight stigma, and that internalized weight stigma was a significant predictor of psychological distress both before and after controlling for acculturative stress. Findings contribute to the topical diversity of literature regarding weight- and shape-related concerns in immigrant populations and have implications for multicultural social work education and practice.