Gender conformity, self-objectification, and body image for sorority and nonsorority women: A closer look

A study of the mechanism for intergenerational transmission of gender roles in single-parent families

The divorce rate in China is rising yearly, and the concept of marriage is changing, triggering many social topics related to single parents. Among them, gender-awareness education for children in single-parent families is particularly worthy of attention, as there has been insufficient exploration of how parents transfer their gender role concepts to their children. This study conducted in-depth interviews with 58 single parents and children from 29 families in Suzhou and constructed the mechanism for intergenerational transmission of gender roles in single-parent families based on grounded theory. It found that single parents' gender stereotypes, the starting point of the intergenerational transmission mechanism, have been diluted. It affords them a more enlightened attitude towards child-rearing style, and they expect more equality in the gender role of their offspring. However, in some parents' actual parenting process, when the children's sexualization behaviours exceed their acceptance range, they will communicate with children in an authoritative and didactic way to "correct" the children's behaviour. In addition to direct verbal instruction, parents' expectations of their children's gender roles will be implicitly conveyed through various parent-child interactions in daily life to affect the formation of their children's gender roles. In the intergenerational transmission of gender roles, external people (such as grandparents, teachers and peer groups) have horizontal socialisation effects on children to modify or strengthen the results of gender education from their parents. Under the comprehensive influence of the above factors, the children's gender roles are finally determined. These studies expand previous theories and studies and have significant theoretical and practical implications.

An examination of individual, relational, and cultural risk for disordered eating in Asian American college students

Objective: This study examined how individual (satisfaction of basic psychological needs), relational (perceived achievement- and dependency-oriented parental psychological control), and cultural (ethnic identity) factors may contribute to Asian American college students' (18 - 25 years of age) disordered eating. Participants: Asian American college students (N = 118) participated in the study. Methods: Participants completed a cross-sectional survey study. Moderated mediation models were used to analyze the data. Results: Analyses showed that perceived achievement-oriented, but not dependency-oriented, parental psychological control was more strongly associated with psychological needs satisfaction at higher, compared to lower, levels of ethnic identity. Conclusions: Findings highlighted the importance of both parenting and ethnic identity among Asian American college students' psychological needs and risk for disordered eating. The complex relations among achievement expectations, ethnic identity and wellbeing in Asian Americans are discussed. The results can inform intervention and prevention programs attending to the needs of this population.

What can my body do for me? Guided body-functionality mirror gazing task improved college women's body appreciation and body functionality orientation

Objective: Focusing on body functionality - what the body can do - may benefit women's body image. This pilot study examined the effects of focusing on body functionality appreciation during an audio-guided mirror gazing task (F-MGT). Participants: 101 college women, M(SD)_AGE = 19.49(1.31), were alternately assigned to F-MGT or a comparison with no guidance on how to examine the body, directed attention mirror gazing task (DA-MGT). Methods: Participants self-reported pre- and post-MGT body appreciation, state appearance satisfaction, and orientation to and satisfaction with physical functionality. Results: Group interactions were significant for body appreciation and functionality orientation. DA-MGT decreased body appreciation from pre- to post-MGT; F-MGT did not change. There were no significant interactions in post-MGT state appearance satisfaction or functionality satisfaction, though state appearance satisfaction increased significantly in F-MGT. Conclusions: Integrating body functionality may buffer against harmful effects of mirror gazing. Given F-MGT's brevity, additional work must assess its potential as an intervention technique.

Randomized control trial of a single-session intervention targeting sociocultural pressures of body image in college sorority women

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of a peer-led single-session intervention targeting the sociocultural pressures of body image. Participants: New members of 13 sororities at one university. Methods: Participants were randomized by sorority into the intervention (n = 207) or wait list control (n = 264). Online surveys were administered at baseline and one month to assess social determinants of body image, body image dissatisfaction (BID), and body appreciation. Multiple logistic and linear regression analyses compared changes over time between groups. Results: We observed significant improvements in overall sociocultural pressures of body image (p = .001) and the subscales of Norms (p < .001) and Perceived Norms (p = .009) of eating and exercise behaviors. Change in BID and body appreciation did not differ between groups. Conclusion: A one-hour peer-led community-level intervention can lead to positive changes in sociocultural pressures in new initiates to a sorority.

Gender Expression, Peer Victimization, and Disordered Weight-Control Behaviors Among U.S. High School Students

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to examine the association between gender expression, peer victimization, and disordered weight-control behaviors (DWCBs) in four population-based samples of U.S. high school students.

METHODS

Analyses include data from 5,488 U.S. high school students from the 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Surveys in four jurisdictions (Broward County, FL; Chicago, IL; Los Angeles, CA; San Diego, CA). Participants were 56% Hispanic/Latino, 21% black/African American, and 14% white. Two items asked about perceived gender expression; responses were classified into three groups: highly gender conforming (e.g., very masculine boys), moderately gender conforming, gender nonconforming (e.g., feminine boys). Sex-stratified multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the association between gender expression, peer victimization, and DWCBs in previous month (fasting, using diet pills/liquids/powders, and purging [vomiting or using laxatives]), controlling for potential confounders.

RESULTS

Overall, 12% of respondents reported fasting, 6% reported diet pill use, and 5% reported purging, with significantly higher prevalence among gender nonconforming than among gender conforming male students (p < .001). In adjusted models, gender nonconforming male students had greater odds of fasting (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 3.0 [2.0-4.7]), diet pill use (6.1 [3.7-9.9]), and purging (7.2 [3.6-14.8]), relative to moderately conforming males. No significant associations were found among female students. Adding peer victimization to models modestly attenuated the association between gender nonconformity and DWCBs for male students.

CONCLUSIONS

In probability samples of U.S. high school students, we observed marked differences by gender expression in DWCBs among male students but not among female students. Gender expression-related stigma should be addressed within clinical and school-based interventions to prevent DWCBs.