Body dissatisfaction, abnormal eating behaviours and eating disorder attitude in homo and heterosexuals
S. Cella, M. Iannaccone, R. Ascione, and P. Cotrufo
Observatory on Eating Disorders, Department of Psychology, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between sexual orientation and disordered eating attitudes and behaviors in a sample of homosexuals and heterosexuals subject. Methods: We screened 111 homosexuals (85 males and 26 females) and 121 heterosexuals (85 males and 36 females) by means of: a) an ad hoc socio-demographic schedule; b) the Eating Disorders Inventory 2 (EDI 2); the Eating Disorders Inventory 2 - Symptom Checklist (EDI-SC); the Body Uneasiness Test (BUT). Results: Male homosexuals obtain much higher scores than male heterosexuals on the EDI2 Drive for thinness, Bulimia, Ineffectiveness, Interoceptive Awareness, Impulse regulation scales and on all the BUT subscales. Similarly, with regard to eating behaviours, a significantly higher frequency in the recourse to strategies to compensate weight increase was observed. On all these scales the sample of homosexual males does not show any significant differences from the group of hetero- and homosexual women. The male homosexuals who claimed they were not in a stable relationship scored higher in all the variables considered. Discussion: Our findings seem to suggest that homosexual orientation is associated with greater body dissatisfaction and abnormal eating behaviours in males, in particular among those who claimed they were not in a sentimental relationship.

DOI: 10.3275/6866 published: 17.02.2010 [« Back]  [Accepted manuscript]