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
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.