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Gender differences, personality and eating behaviors in non-clinical adolescents

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Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Few studies have focused on the relationship between personality trait and eating behaviors in a normal sample of adolescents. The purpose of this research was to examine differences between male and female non-clinical adolescents in eating behaviors, personality traits and state and trait anxiety and to verify the relationship between personality traits, anxiety and eating behaviors in males and females. 592 individuals (324 male and 267 females) were selected. Participants were asked to fill: Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2), State-Training Anxiety Inventory (STAI - Forma Y) and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire - Revised (EPQ-R). The results highlighted specific differences in eating behaviors and in personality traits between genders. No statistical differences in anxiety were found. Our results underline the importance of focussing on anxiety levels for girls, while, for boys, on personality traits such as neuroticism and psychoticism. It was confirmed the opinion that, to prevent eating disorders, not only is it necessary to carry out a campaign based on proper nutrition, but also to investigate thoroughly aspects of personality that may be predictive of these disorders.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Messina, Via Concezione 6/8, Messina, Italy

    F. Cuzzocrea & R. Larcan

  2. SISDAC - Sezione Sicilia, Italy

    C. Lanzarone

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  1. F. Cuzzocrea
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  2. R. Larcan
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  3. C. Lanzarone
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Correspondence to F. Cuzzocrea.

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Cuzzocrea, F., Larcan, R. & Lanzarone, C. Gender differences, personality and eating behaviors in non-clinical adolescents. Eat Weight Disord 17, e282–e289 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03325139

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03325139

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