The thin ideal, depression and eating disorders in women
Идеал худобы, депрессия и расстройства пищевого поведения у женщин
1990-01-01
SCID: 54.1/sk4kq4ej
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depressioneating disordersepidemiologygender differencesthin ideal
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Abstract (AI)
It is proposed that a cultural ideal of thinness for women causes depression at a higher rate among women than among men. This model accounts for five currently unintegrated trends in the epidemiology of depression. It explains why: (1) twice as many women as men are likely to be depressed; (2) this sex difference emerges at puberty; (3) this sex difference is only found in western countries; (4) there is more depression today; (5) the average age of onset for depression is younger now than in the past. Four parallel trends in eating disorders can also be accounted for by the same factor.
Key Findings
1
The model links the emergence of the depression sex difference to puberty, when gendered appearance pressures may intensify.
2
The paper proposes that Western cultural pressure toward a thin female ideal contributes to women’s higher rates of depression and eating disorders.
3
The proposed explanation accounts for the sex difference being observed in Western countries, alongside increasing depression prevalence and younger age of onset.
4
The same cultural factor is proposed to explain four parallel epidemiological trends in eating disorders.
5
The thin-ideal model is presented as explaining why depression affects approximately twice as many women as men.
Research Object
Women exposed to a cultural ideal of thinness
Research Subject
The relationship of the thin ideal to sex differences and historical/cultural trends in depression and eating disorders
Publication Details
Publication Date
1990-01-01
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