The relationship between disordered eating and sexuality amongst adolescents and young adults

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dc.contributor.authorShearer, Annieen
dc.contributor.authorRusson, Jody M.en
dc.contributor.authorHerres, Joannaen
dc.contributor.authorAtte, Titaen
dc.contributor.authorKodish, Tamaren
dc.contributor.authorDiamond, Guy S.en
dc.date.accessioned2021-06-24T23:46:30Zen
dc.date.available2021-06-24T23:46:30Zen
dc.date.issued2015-12en
dc.date.updated2021-06-24T23:46:28Zen
dc.description.abstractResearch shows that gay and bisexual males are at increased risk for disordered eating symptoms (DES); however, studies examining DES amongst lesbians and bisexual women have produced mixed findings. Furthermore, few studies have included questioning or “unsure” individuals. This study examined DES symptoms in adolescents and young adults across self-reported sexual attraction and behavior. Participants were recruited from ten primary care sites in Pennsylvania and administered the Behavioral Health Screen (BHS) – a web-based screening tool that assesses psychiatric symptoms and risk behaviors – during a routine visit. As expected, males who were attracted to other males exhibited significantly higher disordered eating scores than those only attracted to members of the opposite sex. Males who engaged in sexual activities with other males also exhibited significantly higher scores than those who only engaged in sexual activities with females. Amongst females, there were no significant differences in DES scores between females who were only attracted to females and those only attracted to males. Those who reported being attracted to both sexes, however, had significantly higher scores, on average, than those only attracted to one sex. More surprisingly, females who were unsure of who they were attracted to reported the highest DES scores of all. These findings are contrary to previous assumptions that same-sex attraction plays a protective role against eating pathology in females. Females who are unsure or attracted to both sexes may actually be at increased risk for developing DES.en
dc.description.versionPublished versionen
dc.format.extentPages 115-119en
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2015.08.001en
dc.identifier.issn1471-0153en
dc.identifier.orcidRusson, Jody [0000-0002-5629-2626]en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/104011en
dc.identifier.volume19en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherElsevieren
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectEating behaviorsen
dc.subjectSexualityen
dc.subjectAdolescenceen
dc.subjectYoung adulthooden
dc.titleThe relationship between disordered eating and sexuality amongst adolescents and young adultsen
dc.title.serialEating Behaviorsen
dc.typeArticle - Refereeden
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten
dc.type.otherArticleen
pubs.organisational-group/Virginia Techen
pubs.organisational-group/Virginia Tech/All T&R Facultyen
pubs.organisational-group/Virginia Tech/Liberal Arts and Human Sciencesen
pubs.organisational-group/Virginia Tech/Liberal Arts and Human Sciences/Human Development and Family Scienceen
pubs.organisational-group/Virginia Tech/Liberal Arts and Human Sciences/CLAHS T&R Facultyen

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