Structure and peculiarities of gender identity in patients with anorexia nervosa

Abstract

The structure of gender identity and mechanisms of gender identity disorders in patients with food addiction were studied. 18 patients with anorexia nervosa and 20 women without eating disorders were examined with the use of modified by the authors Bem Sex-Role Inventory and projective (picturesque) techniques. It is shown that gender identity is a complex system and that its structure includes following components: gender ideal, gender stereotype and internal gender. Two mechanisms of gender identity disorders in patients with anorexia nervosa were revealed: patients without deficit of weight demonstrate imbalance of masculine gender ideals and feminine gender stereotypes, patients with deficit of weight demonstrate lack of family images differentiation for development of gender identification.