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Sex‐role conflict in women with eating disorders
Author(s) -
Cantelon Linda J.,
Leichner Pierre P.,
Harper Dan W.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/1098-108x(198602)5:2<317::aid-eat2260050210>3.0.co;2-2
Subject(s) - psychology , anorexia nervosa , eating disorders , femininity , perspective (graphical) , gender role , developmental psychology , identity (music) , clinical psychology , physics , artificial intelligence , computer science , acoustics , psychoanalysis
Sex‐role conflict has been thought to influence the etiology and course of anorexia nervosa and bulimia in women. The present study used the Bern Sex‐Role Inventory and a sex role satisfaction questionnaire to compare sex‐role conflict among anorexic, bulimic and control groups. Conflict was defined as the discrepancy between actual and ideally perceived sex‐role identity. No significant differences were found among the groups, although all three reported conflict about their sex‐role identity. Anorexic and bulimic women thought their sex‐role conflict was related to their illness. Support for the feminist hypothesis that bulimic women seek femininity was suggested. Anorexic women presented a much more heterogenous group such that no particular perspective was supported.