Gender Norms, Activity, and Eating: Examining the Factors at Play in Men's Experiences of Disordered Eating and Body Image

Abstract

Though men make up a significant portion of those with eating disorders and commonly face issues with disordered eating in body image, research particularly regarding men’s experiences of these issues has been largely unexplored in prior research as opposed to women’s experiences. Our research aims to address this gap in literature with particular attention to aspects such as gender role identification, exercise habits, body image issues, and life satisfaction. We utilize a self-report questionnaire to determine what factors are at play in men’s experiences of disordered eating and body issues as well as whether or not masculinity plays a crucial role in said experiences. We also expand prior literature using a Self-Discrepancy measure to better understand disconnections in body image. Analyses showed significant, complex relationships between masculinity, life satisfaction, and various measures of disordered eating, body image, and exercise, in addition to the mediation of the relationship between self-discrepancy and life satisfaction by masculinity and intolerance of appearance. We address these results through the scope of gender norm, beauty standards, and expectations for men as well as broader patterns in disordered eating/body image issues.