Theoretical and Methodological Considerations for Research on Eating Disorders and Gender

Abstract

Gender is a relevant factor in the etiology of eating disorders (ED) as evidenced by gender-specific components of disordered eating and by the high risk of ED among transgender individuals, in addition to other factors. However, research on connections between ED and gender identity are limited. Researchers who produce explanatory models, content themselves with faulting the sociocultural ideal of slimness for women, but they fail to grasp the connection between culture, gender and the body and they fall short of integrating this perspective into existing psychological knowledge about ED. Psychological research informed by feminist theory has begun to bridge this gap, but this growing area of research needs to be further developed and should include an understanding of ED in persons with all gender identities. This article expands the discussion of gender and ED, by grounding ED in an understanding of gender itself and by discussing methodological implications of this understanding.

Too masculine for healthcare, too feminine for intense sports: correlation between gender conformity and pro-health behaviours

“…The first correlation supports the aforementioned research from other authors. The positive relationship with eating habits may indicate that masculinity protects women from eating disorders, which are associated with feminine gender norms [42,108] and instead directs them towards good nutritional choices, even despite a lack of regular physical activity. Based on their research, Cella et al [47] directly stated that the feminine personality type may increase one's chances of developing eating disorders.…”

“…The author also suggests that eating meat is directly associated with masculinity. In the context of eating disorders, researchers lean towards stating that they occur more frequently among women [38][39][40][41][42]. A link between eating disorders and gender norms for women can be seen in the desire for a slim body [43][44][45].…”

Adding listening and reading for social context to the voice approach of the Listening Guide method.

“…Other settings are possible and can benefit from the application of the new analytical step as well. Examples include communicating in more languages with the help of interpreters (Rosari, 2021), research about international experiences (Müller, 2021), facilitating a theater group with elderly persons who are diagnosed with dementia (Höhn, 2021), interviews with women and trans* gendered persons after recovery from eating disorders (Springmann, 2021), or various forms of group settings, such as focus groups or action research.…”

A qualitative study of gendered psychosocial processes in eating disorder development

“…These differences are visible along the lines of female versus male gender as well as gender and sexual minorities versus majorities. Thus, within a general biopsychosocial model of ED development (Culbert et al, 2015), the dual‐pathway (Stice, 2016) and the transdiagnostic model (Fairburn et al, 2003) of ED, the aspects of gender and sexual identity should be given more attention (Springmann et al, 2020). Prevalence rates are consistently higher for women than for men (Keski‐Rahkonen & Mustelin, 2016; Nagl et al, 2016; Udo & Grilo, 2018), and female sex/gender is considered the most important risk factor for ED (Jacobi et al, 2004).…”