TY - JOUR
T1 - Gender, general strain theory, negative emotions, and disordered eating
AU - Piquero, Nicole Leeper
AU - Fox, Kristan
AU - Piquero, Alex R.
AU - Capowich, George
AU - Mazerolle, Paul
PY - 2010/4/1
Y1 - 2010/4/1
N2 - Much of the prior work on General Strain Theory (GST) has focused on how strain and negative emotions interrelate to produce criminal-especially violent-activity. Very little research has extended GST to examine other types of non-criminal, negative behavior, such as self-harming behaviors associated with disordered eating, a traditionally female-specific self-directed outcome. Using a sample of 338 young adults (54% female, 95% white), this article applies GST to disordered eating by examining how strain and negative emotions relate to this particular outcome across gender. Findings indicate that two types of strain measures predict depressive symptoms among males and females, that inequitable strainful experiences relate to disordered eating among females but not males, that depressive symptoms but not anger increase disordered eating for both males and females, and that membership in Greek organizations (sororities or fraternities) is associated with disordered eating but only for males. Implications for theory and directions for future research are highlighted.
AB - Much of the prior work on General Strain Theory (GST) has focused on how strain and negative emotions interrelate to produce criminal-especially violent-activity. Very little research has extended GST to examine other types of non-criminal, negative behavior, such as self-harming behaviors associated with disordered eating, a traditionally female-specific self-directed outcome. Using a sample of 338 young adults (54% female, 95% white), this article applies GST to disordered eating by examining how strain and negative emotions relate to this particular outcome across gender. Findings indicate that two types of strain measures predict depressive symptoms among males and females, that inequitable strainful experiences relate to disordered eating among females but not males, that depressive symptoms but not anger increase disordered eating for both males and females, and that membership in Greek organizations (sororities or fraternities) is associated with disordered eating but only for males. Implications for theory and directions for future research are highlighted.
KW - Anger
KW - Depression
KW - Disordered eating
KW - General strain
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77951092222&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10964-009-9466-0
DO - 10.1007/s10964-009-9466-0
M3 - Article
C2 - 19882239
AN - SCOPUS:77951092222
SN - 0047-2891
VL - 39
SP - 380
EP - 392
JO - Journal of Youth and Adolescence
JF - Journal of Youth and Adolescence
IS - 4
ER -