Examination of a sociocultural model of disordered eating among male and female adolescents

Halliwell, Emma
Harvey, Martin

¹Centre for Appearance Research, University of the West of England, UK
²University of Sussex, UK

^*Correspondence to Correspondence should be addressed to Dr Emma Halliwell, Centre for Appearance Research, School of Psychology, University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK (e-mail:[email protected]).

Received 22 October 2004; revised version received 20 December 2004

British Journal of Health Psychology 11(2):p 235-248, May 2006. | DOI: 10.1348/135910705X39214

Objectives.

The study tests a version of sociocultural model of disordered eating that was modified to incorporate social comparisons. Additionally, it examines how self-reported body-mass index and perceived weight status influence associations within the model.

Method.

Questionnaires were administered in a state secondary school; the sample consisted of 250 female and 257 male adolescents aged 11–16 years.

Results.

The results supported the sociocultural model among both male and female adolescents. Perceived pressure to lose weight was directly associated with eating behaviour, as well as indirectly associated through social comparisons, internalization and body dissatisfaction. However, social comparisons were most strongly related to body dissatisfaction among adolescents who perceived themselves as overweight.

Conclusions.

The findings indicate that models of eating disordered behaviour, developed for adolescent girls, are also appropriate for understanding this behaviour among male adolescents. The results suggest that social comparisons represent a useful addition to original model and a potentially fruitful target for interventions.