INTERACTIVE EFFECTS OF MENARCHEAL STATUS AND DATING ON DIETING AND DISORDERED EATING AMONG ADOLESCENT GIRLS

Citation
E. Cauffman et L. Steinberg, INTERACTIVE EFFECTS OF MENARCHEAL STATUS AND DATING ON DIETING AND DISORDERED EATING AMONG ADOLESCENT GIRLS, Developmental psychology, 32(4), 1996, pp. 631-635
Citations number
26
Categorie Soggetti
Psychology, Developmental
Journal title
ISSN journal
00121649
Volume
32
Issue
4
Year of publication
1996
Pages
631 - 635
Database
ISI
SICI code
0012-1649(1996)32:4<631:IEOMSA>2.0.ZU;2-U
Abstract
The effects of menarcheal status and opposite-sex socializing (mixed-s ex social activity, dating, and noncoital sexual involvement with boyf riends) on dieting and disordered eating among early adolescent girls are examined. In all, 89 12- and 13-year-old girls reported their mena rcheal status, dieting behaviors and attitudes, and involvement in dat ing and other heterosocial activities. Girls who are more involved in mixed-sex social activities are more likely to exhibit disordered eati ng tendencies, and this effect is stronger among girls who have experi enced menarche. Also, girls who are dating and are more physically inv olved with boyfriends are more likely to report dieting and disordered eating than are their peers. An interaction between dating and menarc heal status was observed in the prediction of dieting and disordered e ating, with dating more strongly linked to dieting and disordered eati ng among girls who have recently experienced menarche.