Research into Psychopathology
The relationship between body image and restrained eating
behaviour, and the influence of gender.
Sanne van der Werff
i6132751
Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML)
Bachelor Health Sciences, course Mental Health
Maastricht University
Date: 04-02-2019
1
,Table of Contents
Abstract ................................................................................................................................................... 3
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 4
Methods ................................................................................................................................................... 7
Study population .................................................................................................................................. 7
Measurements...................................................................................................................................... 7
Procedure ............................................................................................................................................ 8
Statistical analysis ............................................................................................................................... 8
Results ..................................................................................................................................................... 9
Study- and participants characterisations........................................................................................... 9
Correlation between body image (operationalized as body appreciation) and restrained eating
behaviour ........................................................................................................................................... 10
Influence of gender ............................................................................................................................ 11
Discussion ............................................................................................................................................. 11
References ............................................................................................................................................. 16
2
, Abstract
Purpose: The main focus of this quantitative cross-sectional study is the relationship between
body image and restrained eating behaviour. And examine whether gender has an influence on
this relationship.
Methods: The study population included 110 second year Mental Health students from
Maastricht University (N=110; 14 men, 96 women). Body appreciation and its relationship with
restrained eating behaviour were assessed. Descriptive analysis and correlations were examined
with IBM SPSS Statistics 25.
Results: There was a slight significant negative relation between body appreciation and
restrained eating behaviour (r(110) = -0.38, p < 0.001). When controlling for gender, there was
also a significant negative relation between body appreciation and restrained eating behaviour
(r(110) = -0.36, p < 0.001).
Conclusions: This data implies that a low body image is associated with high amount of
restrained eating behaviour, and vice versa. The partial correlation was not much different from
the bivariate correlation. So, it could be said that gender is not expected to affect the relationship
between body image and restrained eating behaviour. Due to restrictions of this study
population and design, more research need to be done.
3
The relationship between body image and restrained eating
behaviour, and the influence of gender.
Sanne van der Werff
i6132751
Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML)
Bachelor Health Sciences, course Mental Health
Maastricht University
Date: 04-02-2019
1
,Table of Contents
Abstract ................................................................................................................................................... 3
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 4
Methods ................................................................................................................................................... 7
Study population .................................................................................................................................. 7
Measurements...................................................................................................................................... 7
Procedure ............................................................................................................................................ 8
Statistical analysis ............................................................................................................................... 8
Results ..................................................................................................................................................... 9
Study- and participants characterisations........................................................................................... 9
Correlation between body image (operationalized as body appreciation) and restrained eating
behaviour ........................................................................................................................................... 10
Influence of gender ............................................................................................................................ 11
Discussion ............................................................................................................................................. 11
References ............................................................................................................................................. 16
2
, Abstract
Purpose: The main focus of this quantitative cross-sectional study is the relationship between
body image and restrained eating behaviour. And examine whether gender has an influence on
this relationship.
Methods: The study population included 110 second year Mental Health students from
Maastricht University (N=110; 14 men, 96 women). Body appreciation and its relationship with
restrained eating behaviour were assessed. Descriptive analysis and correlations were examined
with IBM SPSS Statistics 25.
Results: There was a slight significant negative relation between body appreciation and
restrained eating behaviour (r(110) = -0.38, p < 0.001). When controlling for gender, there was
also a significant negative relation between body appreciation and restrained eating behaviour
(r(110) = -0.36, p < 0.001).
Conclusions: This data implies that a low body image is associated with high amount of
restrained eating behaviour, and vice versa. The partial correlation was not much different from
the bivariate correlation. So, it could be said that gender is not expected to affect the relationship
between body image and restrained eating behaviour. Due to restrictions of this study
population and design, more research need to be done.
3
