(PS14-7) Sexual Functioning and Eating Disorders: examining the Role of Gender and Internalizing Symptoms

There is a growing body of research associating eating disorders (EDs) and sexual dysfunction; yet, no research to date has tested this relationship while adjusting for the known effects of anxiety and depression on sexual functioning. Furthermore, there is a notable lack of research on sexual functioning problems and EDs among men.

Undergraduate women (n = 1488) and men (n = 646) completed measures of ED pathology and sexual functioning problems. We compared the frequency of different types of sexual functioning problems among men and women with and without probable EDs and evaluated the association between ED status and global sexual functioning problems after adjusting for depression and anxiety symptoms.

Chi-square tests found that women and men with an ED reported more sexual functioning problems than those without an ED. However, there was no significant effect of ED diagnosis on sexual functioning problems in women when adjusting for anxiety and depression (F(3,1) = 1.34, p = .25). There was a significant effect of eating disorder diagnosis on sexual functioning problems in men when adjusting for anxiety and depression (F(3,1) = 15.23, p < .001), such that men with EDs reported greater sexual functioning problems than men without EDs.

Sexual functioning problems observed in women with probable EDs may be better explained by comorbid depression and anxiety symptoms; However, sexual functioning problems in men may be uniquely influenced by EDs. Results suggest the importance of screening for sexual functioning problems among adults with EDs, particularly men.