Gender differences among adolescents in family, and peer influences on body dissatisfaction, weight loss, and binge eating behaviors

The present study examined perceived family and peer influences on body dis satisfaction, weight loss, and binge eating behaviors in adolescents. Three hundred and six girls aged 11 to 17 years (M = 13.66 SD = 1.12) and 297 bo ys aged 11 to 18 years (M = 13.89, SD = 1.13) completed a questionnaire tha t examined the direct influence and quality of family and peer relationship s on body dissatisfaction and disordered eating. Direct influences of famil y and peers, rather than the quality of these relationships, predicted body dissatisfaction and disordered eating in adolescent boys and girls. Intere sting differences were found between girls and boys in the nature of the in fluences and in the way they were expressed. In particular, parental and pe er discussion and encouragement of weight loss predicted disordered eating behaviors in girls, while maternal and peer encouragement predicted binge e ating and weight loss behaviors in bogs. Fathers played a salient role in t he expression of ore severe forms of eating problems, while siblings played a small yet significant role in cognitive restraint among girls. The findi ngs highlight gender differences in the importance of significant others in the expression of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating in adolescenc e.