White public regard: Associations among eating disorder symptomatology, guilt, and White guilt in young adult women

As a novel investigation of the role of White racial identity, the current study explored the link between White guilt and disordered eating. Young adult women (N=375), 200 of whom self-identified as White. Measures assessed disordered eating, trait guilt, White guilt, and affect. White guilt is interrelated with disordered eating, particularly bulimic symptomatology. Distress tolerance and tendency to experience negative affect moderated the relation between White guilt and several disordered eating variables. Exploration of White guilt in clinical and research settings can inform understanding and treatment of disordered eating. •White guilt was significantly associated with bulimia nervosa symptomatology.•Body image and White guilt both involve internalizing how others see one's self.•Negative affect exacerbated the relation between White guilt and disordered eating.•Distress tolerance mitigated the relation between White guilt and eating behavior.•How individuals cope affects whether White guilt affects disordered eating.