Perceived pubertal timing and disordered eating: The importance of considering the social identities of Race and Gender

• In Event: 3-019 - Understudied Populations in Puberty Research: New Insights

Integrative Statement

Introduction

Research into the role of puberty in disordered eating has primarily focused on the effects of timing, namely that earlier timing contributes to greater disordered eating. This blanket belief misses the nuance of the interaction of puberty and other social identities. For instance, does early puberty carry the same risks for boys and girls alike, or might its influence change. Similarly, is pubertal development and its implications viewed similarly across different race-ethnic groups. If puberty is viewed differently, what does that mean for disordered eating for boys or for non-White girls. The study examines whether social identities (gender, race) interact with perceived pubertal timing relative to peers to predict disordered eating behaviors (DEB) in Black adolescents and whether these relations are moderated by biological sex.

Methods

Data are drawn from Black adolescents (N = 328; 42% male) who participated in Waves 3-5 (8th grade, 11th grade, and 1-year post-high school) of the Maryland Adolescent Development in Context Study. Perceived pubertal timing relative to peers was assessed using a single item from the Pubertal Development Scale. Racial identity (Exploration) was assessed using 7-items based on the Multigroup Ethnic Identify Measure and gender identity (Masculinity and Femininity) was assessed using 4-items that capture gender identity and gender expression. Covariates included chronological age, BMI and family income.

Results

Results demonstrated that highly androgynous 8th-grade boys who engaged in less racial exploration reported low DEB in 11th grade; however post-high school, high racial exploration mitigated the effects of androgyny on DEB. Moreover, boys engaged in less DEB post-high school if they felt less feminine and engaged in more racial exploration in 8th grade; similar findings emerged for boys who were highly masculine and late developers. For girls, feeling more masculine and engaging in less racial exploration in 8th grade predicted low DEB in 11th grade; however, girls who felt less feminine and engaged in less racial exploration reported low DEB in 11th grade.

Conclusion
Our study findings suggest that racial exploration and relative pubertal timing intersect with gender identity (Masculinity and Femininity) among Black adolescent boys and girls in important ways that require further investigation. Our results replicated findings about the protective nature of masculinity and the risks of high levels of femininity. However, many of these effects were qualified by interactions with other social identities. More importantly, the results suggest that intersectionality may be a useful theoretical tool for understanding how Black adolescents’ gender identity and race-related influences (in this case perceived puberty, racial identity, and race specific constructions of masculinity) are linked to their disordered patterns of eating behaviors. When designing programs to reduce disordered eating behaviors schools should target both adolescent girls and boys during the pubertal transition and include modules that expose them to multiple body ideal norms and the potentially racialized nature of these norms, as well as how to positively navigate relationships with peers at different levels of pubertal development.

Authors

• Janelle L. Blazek, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
  Presenting Author

• Rona Carter, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
  Non-Presenting Author