Feminine Gender Norms and Eating Disorders in Women: Evidence from an Exploratory Pilot Study

Background: Eating disorders (EDs) are multifactorial mental health conditions that predominantly affect adolescent girls and young women and constitute a major public health concern due to their severe and often chronic impact on physical, psychological, and psychosocial functioning. Although existing research suggests that gender-related constructs and traditional gender roles may influence the etiology and clinical expression of EDs, empirical evidence remains limited. Accordingly, this study examines clinical and health-related variables from a gender perspective in women diagnosed with an eating disorder. Methods: Forty women aged 14 to 50 years completed an assessment protocol including measures of gender norms, eating disorder symptomatology, and physical and psychological health. Results: Participants exhibited significantly poorer mental and physical health compared to normative samples and showed greater adherence to tra-ditional feminine gender norms, particularly those related to thinness and investment in appearance. Several gender norms were significantly associated with health outcomes, and gender norms explained additional variance in ED symptomatology beyond es-tablished clinical predictors. Conclusions: These findings highlight traditional gender norms as a significant social determinant negatively impacting the health of women with EDs. Greater conformity to norms related to thinness, appearance, domestic roles, and sexual fidelity was associated with poorer health outcomes and increased engagement in disordered eating behaviours.