Parental Influences on Young Adult Body Dissatisfaction and Disordered Eating: The Role of Gender

Abstract

The present study explored the role of gender on the influence of parental comments on body shape and disordered eating concerns in young adults living in Singapore. Participants were 384 young adults (mean age = 21 years, SD = 1.90) who completed self-report measures (Parental Comments Scale and the Clinical and Research Inventory for Eating Disorders). Significant gender differences were found in the levels of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating, and perception of parental comments, with females reporting higher scores on all measures. These findings highlight the need for further exploration of gender-specific pathways of parental influence.