Boys don't try? Gendered stigma specifically reduces help-seeking for disordered eating in men, but not women.

IF 4.5 3区 医学 Q2 NUTRITION & DIETETICS
Martin S Lehe, Georg Halbeisen, Vanessa C Juergensen, Luisa Sabel, Sabine Steins-Loeber, Georgios Paslakis
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Abstract

Background: Eating disorders (EDs) affect individuals across all genders, but men remain underrepresented in ED treatment settings. Stigma related to EDs in men may impede help-seeking, particularly for symptoms that deviate from traditional masculine ideals. This study investigates whether stigma-related perceptions of EDs in men specifically moderate the association between disordered eating symptoms and help-seeking intentions in men, i.e., whether there is a gender-specific component of ED stigma.

Methods: In a cross-sectional survey, n = 242 men and n = 249 women completed questionnaires on various disordered eating symptoms ("traditional" thinness-oriented, muscularity-oriented, orthorexic, and avoidant/restrictive eating behaviors), stigma-related perceptions of EDs in men, and help-seeking intentions. Moderator analyses were conducted by gender to explore interactions between symptom severity and stigma in predicting help-seeking intentions.

Results: Help-seeking intentions increased with the severity of disordered eating symptoms in both men and women, except for avoidant/restrictive eating behavior in both genders and muscularity-oriented symptoms in men. Stigma-related perceptions of EDs in men moderated the association between symptoms and help-seeking intentions in men, which was exclusively the case for "feminized" ED symptoms (i.e., thinness and weight concerns). No moderation effects were observed for other symptom domains or among women.

Conclusions: Results support the notion of a gender-specific role of stigma in men's help-seeking behaviors for EDs. Such stigma, which seems to be related to "feminized" ED symptoms, may contribute to men's reluctance to seek help for EDs. These findings emphasize the need for interventions tailored to reduce stigma, particularly regarding men's experiences of EDs, to support equal access to healthcare.

Abstract Image

Abstract Image

男孩不试试?性别歧视特别减少了男性对饮食失调的求助,而不是女性。
背景:饮食失调(ED)影响所有性别的个体,但男性在ED治疗环境中的代表性仍然不足。男性与ed相关的耻辱感可能会阻碍寻求帮助,特别是对于那些偏离传统男性理想的症状。本研究调查了男性对ED的耻辱感是否会特异性地调节饮食失调症状与男性寻求帮助意愿之间的关联,即ED耻辱感是否存在性别特异性成分。方法:在横断面调查中,n = 242名男性和n = 249名女性完成了各种饮食失调症状(“传统”以瘦为导向、肌肉为导向、正统饮食和回避/限制饮食行为)、男性对ed的耻辱感和寻求帮助的意愿的问卷调查。通过性别进行调节分析,探讨症状严重程度和耻辱感在预测求助意向方面的相互作用。结果:除了回避/限制饮食行为和男性肌肉导向型症状外,男性和女性寻求帮助的意愿都随着饮食失调症状的严重程度而增加。男性对ED的耻辱感相关认知缓和了症状与男性寻求帮助意图之间的联系,这仅适用于“女性化”ED症状(即瘦和体重问题)。在其他症状域或女性中未观察到适度效应。结论:研究结果支持了耻辱感在男性急诊科求助行为中的性别特异性作用。这种耻辱感似乎与ED的“女性化”症状有关,可能导致男性不愿寻求ED的帮助。这些发现强调有必要采取针对性的干预措施,以减少耻辱感,特别是关于男性急诊科的经历,以支持平等获得医疗保健。
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来源期刊
Journal of Eating Disorders
Journal of Eating Disorders Neuroscience-Behavioral Neuroscience
CiteScore
5.30
自引率
17.10%
发文量
161
审稿时长
16 weeks
期刊介绍: Journal of Eating Disorders is the first open access, peer-reviewed journal publishing leading research in the science and clinical practice of eating disorders. It disseminates research that provides answers to the important issues and key challenges in the field of eating disorders and to facilitate translation of evidence into practice. The journal publishes research on all aspects of eating disorders namely their epidemiology, nature, determinants, neurobiology, prevention, treatment and outcomes. The scope includes, but is not limited to anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and other eating disorders. Related areas such as important co-morbidities, obesity, body image, appetite, food and eating are also included. Articles about research methodology and assessment are welcomed where they advance the field of eating disorders.
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