An Examination of Gender Differences in the Association of Adolescent Substance use with Eating and Weight Loss Attitudes.

Objective: To assess gender differences in the relationship between eating and weight loss attitudes (EWAs), and 30-day tobacco and alcohol use among adolescents, while controlling for potential confounds (age, country of birth, psychological distress, pubertal development, peer alcohol and tobacco use, and sexual activity).

Methods: School students aged between 11 and 17 years (N = 10,273) from high schools in the State of Victoria (Australia) completed surveys in class under conditions of anonymity and confidentiality.

Results: The interaction between EWAs and gender was significant for tobacco use but not for alcohol use, indicating that the effect of EWAs on tobacco use, but not alcohol use, vary by gender.

Linking eating and weight control attitudes to relationship experiences: A large-scale survey of adolescent females.

Objective: To examine the extent to which family conflict, peer bullying and psychological distress account for eating and weight loss attitudes in adolescent females. This study examined the degree to which psychological distress mediated the association between family conflict and eating and weight loss attitudes, and the association of bullying and eating and weight loss attitudes.

Method: Females aged between 11 and 17 years (N = 5125) were recruited from schools in the State of Victoria (Australia).