RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GENDER ROLES AND DISORDERED EATING BEHAVIORS AMONG ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

Presented study is an attempt to see the relationship between gender roles and disordered eating behaviors among adolescents. Sample of 340 adolescents with the age range of 16 to 20 years (M = 38.82; SD = 8.91) from different government and private educational institutes of Islamabad. Instruments used in present study were Modified Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI; Saleem, 2010) and Eating Disorders Inventory RF form (Garner, 2004). Result revealed significant positive relationship between gender roles along with its three domains masculinity, femininity, and undifferentiated gender role has significant positive relationship with disordered eating behaviors (bulimia, drive for thinness, and body dissatisfaction). Hierarchical multiple regression was carried out to see the predictive affects of gender roles along with gender, age, body mass index and meal per day and results revealed that masculinity and femininity are significant positive predictors of bulimia, drive for thinness and body dissatisfaction, age, gender, BMI, and meal per day also shows significant positive prediction of disordered eating behaviors. Moderation analysis was carried out to see the moderating role of gender between the relationship of gender roles and disordered eating behaviors and results revealed that gender do moderated the relationship of masculinity, femininity and undifferentiated gender roles with bulimia, drive for thinness and body dissatisfaction. Furthermore, demographic variables such as age group, level of education, family system, type of institution, has been explored on study variables and results revealed that of middle age adolescents group reported high bulimia, drive for thinness and body dissatisfaction as compared to late adolescents. Body mass index was catered and results revealed that bulimia, drive for thinness and body dissatisfaction was more prevalent in overweight individuals. Individuals with joint family system score higher on bulimia and body dissatisfaction. Individuals of private institutions show more tendency of bulimia and body dissatisfaction. Further, limitations and suggestions were addressed in discussion.