Gender-Dependent Associations of Anxiety and Depression Symptoms With Eating Disorder Psychopathology in a Representative Population Sample.

Mareike Ernst,Antonia M Werner,Manfred E Beutel,Martina De Zwaan,Elmar Brähler,Ana N Tibubos

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.645654

Abstract

Background: Evidence shows that anxiety and depressive disorders play an important role in eating disorder behavior. However, given the epidemiology of eating disorders, there is a need to investigate potentially gender-specific connections.Method: This study tested the associations of anxiety and depression symptoms with eating disorder symptoms and behaviors and explored whether they differed between men and women. Within a population-representative survey (N = 2,510; ages 14–94), participants completed measures of depression symptoms (PHQ-2), anxiety symptoms (GAD-2), and eating disorder symptoms (EDE-Q8). We conducted linear regression analyses of the EDE-Q8 sum score and General Linear Models on the three behaviors overeating, binge eating, and compensatory behaviors (self-induced vomiting/use of laxatives/excessive exercising).Results: Depression and anxiety symptoms were related to more eating disorder symptoms in men and women (irrespective of BMI, age, and income). The association of depression and eating disorder symptoms was slightly stronger in women. Overeating was more common in men and in depressed individuals, whereas compensatory behaviors were more common among anxious individuals, especially anxious women.Conclusion: The study extends previous research by using gender-specific methods in a representative sample. It indicates similarities and differences between men and women regarding disordered eating on a population level.

Highlights

A large body of research has shown deviations from healthy emotional life in individuals with eating disorders
We investigated the relationships of depression and anxiety symptoms with eating disorder symptoms and behaviors measured by the EDE-Q8, a validated short form of the Eating Disorder Questionnaire [29] and whether these associations differed as a function of gender
Whilst we found that depression symptoms statistically predicted eating disorder symptoms in men and women, this association was comparatively stronger among women

Summary

Introduction

A large body of research has shown deviations from healthy emotional life in individuals with eating disorders. Emotion regulation can be summarized as the capacity to understand one’s emotions and to modulate one’s emotional response [2]. Individuals do this in Disordered Eating in Men and Women different ways. For those who do not use adaptive strategies (such as reappraisal), eating disorder behavior can instead serve the purpose to attenuate difficult emotions. Evidence shows that anxiety and depressive disorders play an important role in eating disorder behavior. Given the epidemiology of eating disorders, there is a need to investigate potentially gender-specific connections

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Conclusion