Coed Versus Single-Sex Residence Halls: Correlates of Disordered Eating Behavior

Abstract

Research has shown an increase of more than 500% in the occurrence of eating disorders over the past 20 years (Latzer & Schatz, 1999). Of the 5 million Americans affected every year by these disorders, 90% are female (Cox, Lantz, & Mayhew, 1997). Incidences on college campuses are on the rise as well. Often referred to as the “breeding ground” for disordered eating behavior (Striegal-Moore, Silberstein, & Rodin, 1986), college campuses nationwide show prevalence rates of 3-19% for bulimia and 1-2% for anorexia nervosa for females (Striegel-Moore, Silbersteing, Frensch & Rodin, 1988). Previous research has shown that residence hall composition may have an effect on eating behavior. It has been found that women living on coed floors have significantly higher levels of bulimic symptomalogy and showed higher levels of body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness, and self-induced vomiting than those living on single-sex floors (Berg, 1988). Variables such as body awareness (Garfinkel & Garner, 1982), fear of negative evaluation (Boskind-Lodhal, 1976; Pyle, Mitchell, & Eckert, 1981), and inconsistent sex role attitudes and behaviors (Rost, Neuhaus, & Florin, 1982) have been given as possible explanations for the discrepancy found in disordered eating behaviors among women living in coed versus single-sex residence halls. The current research investigated the prevalence of disordered eating behaviors between single-sex and coed residence halls in men and women, and also explored these instigating variables and their effects on disordered eating behavior. Male and female participants from both single-sex and coed residence halls at two midsized, Midwestern universities completed questionnaires containing measures of disordered eating behavior, body awareness, fear of negative evaluation, and sex role behavior and attitudes. We predicted that females who live in coed residence halls will have a higher incidence of disordered eating than those living in singlesex residence halls. We also predicted that men will have a lower incidence of eating disorders than women. We found no effect of residence hall composition on eating behaviors, yet found main effects of gender on feminine attitudes, eating behavior on fear of negative evaluation, and gender as well as eating behavior on social physique anxiety. Although our main hypothesis was not supported, the transition and adjustment to the college environment still may cause or exacerbate disordered eating behaviors, and therefore educational programs may be needed.