Sexism and Eating Disorders: Gender differences, changes with age, and relations between both constructs

Abstract

Concern about the prevalence of sexism and eating disorders (EDs) underlies this study, which had two goals: 1) To analyze gender differences and changes with age in sexism and in eating disorders (EDs) (DT-drive for thinness, BN-bulimia, BD-body dissatisfaction); and 2) to explore the relations between sexism and EDs. The sample comprised 941 students from 14 to 25 years old. The Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (Glick & Fiske, 1996) and the Eating Disorders Inventory (Garner, 1990) were applied. The results confirm that males score significantly higher in sexism. Females score significantly higher in DT, BN, BD. Sexism decreased with age. BN increased with age, DT and BD did not vary, whereas some psychological traits (perfectionism, maturity fears, impulsivity, and social insecurity) decreased with age. Positive correlations between sexism and DT, fear of maturity, asceticism, and impulsivity were found.