Gender differences in dependency, separation, object relations and pathological eating behavior and attitudes

The purpose of this study was to examine gender differences in eating behaviors and attitudes and the related constructs of dependency, separation, object relations, and eating disorder behavior. One hundred and forty-one undergraduate students were recruited from introductory psychology courses and completed measures of the forementioned constructs. Females had significantly higher scores on the Eating Attitude Test and Eating Self-Efficacy Scale. For males, the Eating Self-Efficacy Scale was also positively correlated with measures of Alienation and Social Incompetence, and the Eating Attitude Test was positively correlated with the Separation Individuation Process Inventory. For females, the Eating Questionnaire Revised was significantly correlated with the Interpersonal Dependency Inventory, the Eating Attitude Test, and Insecure Attachment and Egocentricity scales. There was also a significant positive correlation between the Eating Attitude Test and the Insecure Attachment and Egocentricity scales for females. These findings suggest that certain personality variables differentially are related to pathological eating behaviors and attitudes between gender.