Toward inclusivity: A systematic review of the conceptualization of sexual minority status and associated eating disorder outcomes across two decades.

Abstract

Sexual minority (SM) groups (e.g., those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, questioning, queer, asexual, or those who feel their sexual orientation identity cannot be captured with existing terminology [LGBQA+] and those who report same-sex or same-gender attraction and/or behavior) are at elevated risk for eating disorder (ED) symptoms and behaviors. However, the ways in which this risk varies across SM is less clear, and findings are not fully convergent. Evolution in the definition and assessment of SM status may contribute to this divergence. The aim of this study was to systematically review how sexual orientation and SM status have been assessed in the ED literature and how this may relate to patterns of associations between SM status and ED symptoms. A systematic review of the literature focused on ED symptoms and behaviors and SM groups was conducted, yielding 182 studies. Five categories were created reflecting SM status assessment: identity only (n=105), attraction only (n=8), behavior only (n=4), combinations of identity, behavior, or attraction (n=58), and articles with unclear or insufficient information about SM status assessment (n=7). SM status operationalizations varied across studies, with more inclusive assessments in more recent work. Findings revealed persistent conflicting patterns of disordered eating symptomatology for some SM groups. In addition, decisions to selectively combine SM participants in some studies, most often to increase power, decreased the specificity of their results in relation to differential risk and protective factors within specific LGBQA+ groups. Findings highlight the importance of inclusive assessments of sexual orientation in the ED literature and research focused on underrepresented groups with intersecting identities. Identifying modifiable targets for intervention is a critical next step. Sexual minority (SM) groups have been identified as presenting elevated risk for eating disorder symptoms and behaviors. Our findings suggest that the level of risk is variable across SM groups and points to the need for multi-dimensional assessments of SM status, and increased focus on the function of disordered eating behaviors and different profiles that might emerge related to efforts to modify physical appearance or to regulate emotion.