Relationship status predicts lower restrictive eating pathology for bisexual and gay men across 10‐year follow‐up

Abstract

Objective Cross-sectional studies support that bisexual and gay (BG) men are at increased risk for eating pathology, and romantic relationships may buffer against risk; however, no studies have examined this association longitudinally. The current study examined how romantic relationships impact the trajectory of eating pathology in BG versus heterosexual men. Method BG (n=51) and heterosexual (n=522) men completed surveys of health and eating behaviors at baseline and 10-year follow-up. Results For BG men, being single at baseline prospectively predicted an increase in Drive for Thinness scores over 10-year follow-up. Additionally, for BG men in relationships at baseline, lower relationship satisfaction predicted an increase in Drive for Thinness scores over time. Conversely, these relationship variables did not predict trajectory of eating pathology for heterosexual men. Discussion Implications for theoretical models of risk, including objectification theory and sexual minority stress theory, and prevention, including peer-led cognitive dissonance based interventions, are discussed.

Sexual orientation disparities in eating disorder symptoms among adolescent boys and girls in the UK

“…Second, due to the sample size of some of the sexual minority subgroups, the data did not permit the analysis of bisexual youth as a separate subgroup. Prior research indicates elevated risk for disordered eating behaviors among bisexual youth in particular [9–12, 20, 37]. Collecting more waves of data, given that more youth are likely to identify as sexual minorities as they age [30, 38], may enable for specific subgroup analyses.…”

Eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors in the LGBT population: a review of the literature

“…For gay adults, risk factors related to sexual orientation included discrimination, concealment of sexual orientation, rumination on discriminatory experiences, internalized homophobia, internalized homonegativity, gay community identification (for thinner men), and belonging to the gay community [ 10 , 23 , 47 , 82 , 96 , 136 , 156 , 163 ]. Risk factors related to relationship dynamics included lower relationship satisfaction, high-risk sexual behaviors, having an unmet need to belong, social sensitivity, being single, and frequency of usage of mobile dating apps [ 14 , 17 , 27 , 29 , 43 , 124 ]. Risk factors related to mental health included childhood sexual abuse, negative affect, depression, and alcohol abuse [ 17 , 24 , 43 ].…”

“…For bisexual men, distal risk factors for disordered eating behaviors related to sexual orientation included discrimination, concealment of sexual orientation, rumination about discrimination, internalized biphobia, internalized binegativity, gay community identification (for thinner men), and sexual objectification experiences [ 10 , 23 , 26 , 47 , 156 , 163 , 166 ]. Risk factors related to relationship dynamics included lower relationship satisfaction and being single [ 27 , 29 ]. Risk factors related to mental health included childhood sexual abuse and depression [ 24 , 154 ].…”

“…Similar patterns were found for disordered eating behaviors. Across adult subgroups, having less social support, feelings of not belonging, and isolation (e.g., being single, fear of intimacy, low relationship satisfaction) were common within relationship dynamic factors [ 14 , 17 , 27 , 29 , 43 , 50 , 83 , 89 , 90 , 107 ]. Body image dissatisfaction, higher BMI and perceived weight status, internalization of the ideal body and cultural standards of attractiveness, pressure to be thin, and objectification were common within body image factors [ 10 , 15 , 24 – 26 , 40 , 43 , 46 , 49 , 50 , 68 , 69 , 74 , 77 , 83 , 88 , 90 , 97 , 103 , 110 , 142 , 146 , 156 , 165 ].…”

Aesthetic ideals, body image, eating attitudes and behaviors in men with different sexual orientation / Ideales estéticos, imagen corporal, actitudes y conductas alimentarias en hombres con diferente orientación sexual

“…En congruencia con nuestra hipótesis, los hombres gais y los bisexuales manifestaron mayor motivación para adelgazar, interiorización del ideal de delgadez y preocupación por la comida, en comparación con los heterosexuales. Resultado coincidente con la literatura que señala que los grupos con OSX minoritaria (e.g., gais, bisexuales) pueden experimentar tanta preocupación por la apariencia física como las mujeres heterosexuales (Conner et al, 2004), así como mayor INC (Grogan, 2016;Peplau et al, 2009), motivación para adelgazar (Brown y Keel, 2015;Kane, 2009;Levesque y Vichesky, 2006; Toro-Alfonso, Nieves y Borrero, 2010) y dieta restrictiva (Brown y Keel, 2012;Toro-Alfonso et al, 2010), en comparación con los varones heterosexuales. Probablemente estos resultados se deben a que la cultura gay mayormente promueve una identidad basada en la apariencia, la figura corporal femenina, el peso corporal (Frederick y Essayli, 2016;Hospers y Jansen, 2005;Varangis, Lanzieri, Hildebrandt y Feldman, 2012;Yelland y Tiggemann, 2003), el atractivo físico (Morgan y Arcelus, 2009), la restricción alimentaria y la motivación para adelgazar (Brown y Keel, 2012;Wilchstrøm, 2006), por lo que los hombres gais y bisexuales han interiorizado la visión de que deberían ser delgados y físicamente atractivos para poder llamar la atención de otros hombres como pareja sexual.…”