Gender differences regarding psychopathological, family and social characteristics in adolescents with abnormal eating behavior.

Objective: (1) To identify gender differences regarding psychopathological, family and social characteristics in adolescents with abnormal eating behavior; (2) to study risk factors for this abnormal eating in boys and girls.

Method: Adolescents participating in this community-based longitudinal study completed, at the age of 13 (t(1)) and 15 years (t(2)), a semi-structured interview and the validated Spanish versions of several self-reported questionnaires measuring eating and general psychopathology. A control group of 150 pupils and 159 adolescents with abnormal eating behavior were selected.

Results: Girls with abnormal eating showed significantly more psychiatric morbidity and boys more social difficulties. Body dissatisfaction and psychiatric morbidity predicted abnormal eating at t(2) only in girls.

Discussion: The findings contribute to the debate on gender differences in abnormal eating behavior etiology.