Research suggests that the associations
between femininity, body image and eating disorders are
intricate. How these constructs are linked to each other
still needs to be determined. The purpose of this study was
to gain a deeper understanding of these links, examining
the mediational relationship among these constructs.
Additionally, the prediction that bulimia and binge eating
disorder symptoms have a similar origin was tested and
compared. A total of 355 female college students (ages 18
to 25) completed a set of questionnaires that assessed
femininity, feminine gender role stress, body
dissatisfaction, bulimia, and binge eating disorder.
Results showed that body dissatisfaction mediates the
relationship between femininity or feminine gender role
stress with bulimia symptoms, as well as the relationship
between feminine gender role stress and binge eating
disorder symptoms. The findings also suggest that body
dissatisfaction related to feminine gender role stress may
contribute to higher levels of binge eating disorder
symptoms.