1 - (SYM 81) Examining Rates of and Relationships with Eating Psychopathology in a Mixed Sample of Gender Minority Individuals

Introduction: Although there is some research examining body image in gender minorities (e.g., Romito et al., 2021), it has largely focused on singular subgroups, such as those who identify as non-binary or trans. The purpose of the current study was to examine the rates of eating psychopathology in a mixed sample of individuals who self-identified as gender minorities. In addition, the relationships between eating pathology and other important constructs, such as gender dysphoria, were examined.  

Method: Participants were 309 volunteers (Mage = 32.82, SD = 8.81) who self-identified as agender, genderfluid, gender nonconforming, genderqueer, intersex, trans men, nonbinary, and trans women recruited via Connect by CloudResearch. Participants completed demographics, the Utrecht Gender Dysphoria Scale-Gender Spectrum (McGuire et al., 2020); the Body Image Scale for Transsexuals (Lindgren & Pauly, 1975); and Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale (Stice et al., 2000).

Results: Independent samples t-tests showed that those who met criteria for an eating disorder (n = 88; 30.1% of the sample) scored higher on gender dysphoria, gender specific body dissatisfaction, and number of parts of their bodies they desire to change than those who did not meet criteria (n = 204, 69.9%; all ps < .001). Independent samples t-tests also showed that those who self-identified as trans (n = 113; 36.9% of the sample) scored higher on gender dysphoria, parts of their body they want to change, and eating disorder symptoms (all ps < .01) than gender minority individuals who did not identify as trans (n = 193, 63.1%). In addition, gender dysphoria and gender-specific body dissatisfaction were both correlated with more eating disorder symptoms.

Conclusion: Much of the previous work in our field has not included those who are gender minorities and when it has, includes exclusively trans populations. However, it is important to study the complex relationships among these variables in gender diverse samples.