Disordered Eating and Sexual Concerns in Chinese and Euro-Caucasian Undergraduate Women

Abstract

While a growing body of research points to considerable sexual concerns among women with an eating disorder, this research predominantly focuses on Western samples of Euro-Caucasian women. As eating disorder rates continue to increase globally, research on sexuality and disordered eating among ethnically diverse samples is needed to understand whether these associations differ cross-culturally. The present study examined disordered eating and sexual concerns in Chinese and Euro-Caucasian undergraduate women. Chinese ( n = 512; Mage = 20) and Euro-Caucasian ( n = 494; Mage = 21) undergraduate women completed online questionnaires assessing sexual function, sexual insecurities, symptoms of disordered eating, body dissatisfaction, and psychological traits of eating disorders. In both samples, body dissatisfaction, eating disorder symptoms, and psychological traits of eating disorders were associated with increased sexual concerns. Group membership only moderated the associations between disordered eating and performance-based cognitive distractions, such that it was stronger in Euro-Caucasian women. These findings might be used to develop cross-cultural interventions that address sexual concerns and disordered eating.