The role of gendered constructions of eating disorders in delayed help-seeking in men: a qualitative interview study

Abstract

ObjectivesTo understand how young men recognise eating disorder (ED) symptoms and decide to seek help, and to examine their experiences of initial contacts with primary care.DesignA qualitative interview study.SettingMen from across the UK were interviewed as part of a study of 39 young men's and women's experiences of having an ED.Participants10 men aged 16–25 years with various EDs including anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.ResultsThe widespread perception of EDs as uniquely or predominantly a female problem led to an initial failure by young men to recognise their behaviours as symptoms of an ED. Many presented late in their illness trajectory when ED behaviours and symptoms were entrenched, and some felt that opportunities to recognise their illness had been missed because of others’ lack of awareness of EDs in men. In addition, the men discussed the lack of gender-appropriate information and resources for men with EDs as an additional impediment to making sense of their experiences, and some felt that health and other professionals had been slow to recognise their symptoms because they were men.ConclusionsAlthough increasingly common in young men, widespread cultural constructions of EDs as a ‘women's illness’ mean that men may fail to recognise ED symptoms until disordered behaviours become entrenched and less tractable to intervention. Men also report that such perceptions can affect the reactions of their families and friends, as well as health and educational professionals. Primary care professionals are well placed to challenge inappropriate perceptions of EDs.

Sex differences in the relationships between body dissatisfaction, quality of life and psychological distress

“…Males experiencing high levels of body dissatisfaction may be subject to greater stigmatisation, or experience more self-stigma than females with similar levels of body dissatisfaction, as research has demonstrated the presence of stigma and self-stigma among males with eating disorders, [22][23][24][25] and stigma surrounding body dissatisfaction and body image among high school boys. 26 The experience of stigma may contribute to the manifestation of poorer QoL among males than females at comparable levels of body dissatisfaction.…”

Sex differences in psychosocial impairment associated with eating disorder features in adolescents: A school‐based study

“…3,43 In young women with eating disorder symptoms, impairment in psychosocial functioning has been found to be strongly predictive of help-seeking behavior, both whether treatment is sought for an eating or other mental health problem and, if so, the type of treatment sought. 3,43,44 However, evidence does suggest that the number of males with eating disorders presenting to specialist treatment services is increasing. 3,43,44 However, evidence does suggest that the number of males with eating disorders presenting to specialist treatment services is increasing.…”

Positive beliefs about anorexia nervosa and muscle dysmorphia are associated with eating disorder symptomatology

“…Further, among Australian men, the prevalence of eating disorder behaviours has increased during the past two decades (Hay et al, 2008) with some behaviours, namely extreme dieting and purging, increasing faster among Australian men than women (Mitchison et al, 2013). Previous research has shown that men are more critical and more stigmatising of individuals with anorexia nervosa than women , that the public associates eating disorders in men with reduced masculinity (Griffiths et al, in press;Räisänen and Hunt, 2014;Robinson et al, 2013), and that muscularity-oriented body and eating concerns, not thinness-oriented body and eating concerns, are associated with increased conformity to masculine norms among men (Griffiths et al, 2014). Previous research has shown that men are more critical and more stigmatising of individuals with anorexia nervosa than women , that the public associates eating disorders in men with reduced masculinity (Griffiths et al, in press;Räisänen and Hunt, 2014;Robinson et al, 2013), and that muscularity-oriented body and eating concerns, not thinness-oriented body and eating concerns, are associated with increased conformity to masculine norms among men (Griffiths et al, 2014).…”