ObjectiveThis systematic review aims to critically examine the existing literature that has reported on the links between aspects of religiosity, spirituality and disordered eating, psychopathology and body image concerns.MethodA systematic search of online databases (PsycINFO, Medline, Embase and Web of Science) was conducted in December 2014. A search protocol was designed to identify relevant articles that quantitatively explored the relationship between various aspects of religiosity and/or spirituality and disordered eating, psychopathology and/or body image concerns in non-clinical samples of women and men.ResultsTwenty-two studies were identified to have matched the inclusion criteria. Overall, the main findings to emerge were that strong and internalised religious beliefs coupled with having a secure and satisfying relationship with God were associated with lower levels of disordered eating, psychopathology and body image concern. Conversely, a superficial faith coupled with a doubtful and anxious relationship with God were associated with greater levels of disordered eating, psychopathology and body image concern.DiscussionWhile the studies reviewed have a number of evident limitations in design and methodology, there is sufficient evidence to make this avenue of enquiry worth pursuing. It is hoped that the direction provided by this review will lead to further investigation into the protective benefits of religiosity and spirituality in the development of a clinical eating disorder. Thus a stronger evidence base can then be utilised in developing community awareness and programs which reduce the risk.

Links between religiosity, spirituality and disordered eating have been posited theoretically and empirically, though most studies have accessed predominantly Christian or Jewish samples from private educational institutions, using surveys which contain a heavy JudeoChristian bias. The aim of the current study is to explore the relationship between disordered eating psychopathology (DEP) and spiritual, religious and personal beliefs (SRPBs) in a diverse sample of students with a wide range of cultural, religious and spiritual affiliations. Using a cross-sectional design, female students (n = 687) across two universities in Sydney, Australia completed the Eating Disorder Inventory-3 and the SRPB portion of the World Health Organisation Quality of Life -Spiritual, Religious and Personal Beliefs bref (WHOQOL-SRPB bref) questionnaire. While both existential and religious beliefs were significantly correlated with lower levels of DEP, multivariate analysis found that existential beliefs alone predicted DEP (p < 0.001). These results reveal that spiritual and personal beliefs may have a greater role in predicting lower levels of DEP than religious beliefs in a secular university setting. Furthermore, the findings may have important clinical implications including the exploration of existential and religious mechanisms within current treatment models.

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