Abstract
The relation between gender identity and body dissatisfaction as well as disordered eating was examined in a population-based sample of Finnish adults aged 18 to 44 years (N = 1,142). Participants with a conflicted gender identity were compared to controls matched on age and biological sex. Participants with a conflicted gender identity showed higher levels of body dissatisfaction, women with a conflicted gender identity also showed more eating disturbance than controls. Among men with a conflicted gender identity, male–male sexual experience was associated with more body dissatisfaction and disordered eating. Among women with a conflicted gender identity, female–female sexual experience was related to less body dissatisfaction. Possible explanations for these findings and the potential clinical implications are discussed.
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Acknowledgement
This research was supported by grants from the Academy of Finland, the Stiftelsen for Åbo Akademi Foundation, the National Graduate School of Psychology, and the Otto A. Malm Foundation. The data collection for this study was partly conducted by Markus Varjonen.
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Ålgars, M., Santtila, P. & Sandnabba, N.K. Conflicted Gender Identity, Body Dissatisfaction, and Disordered Eating in Adult Men and Women. Sex Roles 63, 118–125 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-010-9758-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-010-9758-6