3 - (SYM 42) The Multiplicative Role of Community Connectedness and Community Involvement on Body Image and Disordered Eating in Sexual Minority Men and Women

Emerging literature may suggest that certain aspects of sexual minority (SM) community involvement evidence differential effects on body image and disordered eating in SM populations. Specifically, appearance-based community involvement such as going out/nightlife activities have been positively associated with disordered eating and body image concerns. However, it is possible that this positive association is not evidenced for all SM individuals. Indeed, those who feel connected to the community and engage in appearance-based community activities may not display the same elevation in disordered eating and body image concerns. The purpose of the present study was to examine the interaction effects between community involvement type and community connectedness on body image and disordered eating symptoms over time. Adult (18-78 years) SM participants were recruited through Prolific Academic (n=385). Participants were diverse (Indigenous American 1.6%, Asian 21.8%, Black 24.9%, White Latinx 17.7%, White not Latinx 24.9%, Another term 8.6%) men and women. Participants completed the Eating Pathology Symptom Inventory (EPSI), Connectedness to LGBT Community Scale, and the Importance of Gay Community and Activities Scale (Social Activism and Going Out/Nightlife subscales) at baseline and the EPSI again at 1-month follow-up. Community connectedness was associated with EPSI Restriction (r=.14). Social activism and going out/nightlife were associated with purging, restriction, and exercise (rs >.11). There was a significant interaction effect between going out/nightlife and community connectedness on EPSI Muscle Building, such that at high levels of going out/nightlife, community connectedness predicted decreases in EPSI Muscle Building (b=-.30, p=.029). Data from our study support that types of community involvement and community connectedness evidence differential associations with body image and disordered eating in SM adults. Moreover, our findings suggest that appearance-based community involvement moderates the association between community connectedness and muscle building. This finding may indicate that fostering a sense of positive community connectedness may attenuate some appearance pressures within the SM community resulting in decreases in certain ED symptoms, even short-term.