Body Disapproval as a Mediator of the Relationship Between Risk Factors and Eating Disordered Behaviors Among American Adjudicated Male Youth

Abstract

This study explores the complex relationships between risk factors (i.e., body disapproval, substance abuse, childhood sexual abuse, and exposure to pornography) and eating disordered behaviors (EDB) among male youth adjudicated for sexual and nonsexual crimes in the USA. This study used cross-sectional design. Survey data were collected from 800 adjudicated male youth. EDB and risk factors were measured using the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Path analysis within a structural equation model (SEM) was used to investigate the mediated effects of body disapproval on relationships between risk factors and EDB. Results revealed that body disapproval, substance abuse, childhood sexual abuse, and pornography exposure were significantly related to EDB. Body disapproval mediated the effects of substance abuse, childhood sexual abuse, and pornography exposure on EDB among all adjudicated male youth. Findings suggested that body disapproval maybe an important link in the effects of early risk factors on EDB.