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Psychology 320: Psychology of Gender and Sex Differences

March 26

Lecture 60

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1. In recent days, a number of students have contacted me for an extension on the paper due date.

Accordingly, all students will be given an extension:

Announcements

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Paper for non-CSL students (Option A or B):Original due date: Monday, March 31, during class.New due date: Friday, April 4, during class.

End-of-placement paper for CSL students (Option A, B, or C):Original due date: Friday, April 18, between 12:00-4:00 in Kenny 3102.New due date: Tuesday, April 22, between 12:00-4:00 in Kenny 3102.

As noted last class:

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• Late papers: (a) will receive a 10% deduction per 24-hour period after the indicated time of submission has ended and (b) must be handed in directly to me or your TA.

• In addition to submitting a hard copy, you must submit an electronic copy to TurnItIn.

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Students who wish to submit their paper before the extended due date may do so in class or during office hours.

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2. The peer mentors (Derek, Natalie) will hold a tutorial today:

When? 5:00-6:00 (discussion questions), after 6:00 (paper clinic)Where? Kenny 2510

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3. In preparation for the final exam, the peer mentors will hold an additional tutorial, date and time TBA.

Questions for and appointments with the peer mentors may be booked via e-mail:

Natalie Kalb: n.kalb4@gmail.com Derek Zhenxinyu Zhang: derekubc@live.ca

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4. The peer mentors have created a survey to obtain your feedback on the peer mentor program. This feedback will be used to enhance the peer mentor program next year. If you have attended one or more peer mentor tutorials, please complete the survey before May 1 at:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MQK5HQQ

A little R&R ….(Review and Reflect)

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Mental Health:

1. Are there sex differences in depression? (continued)

2. Are there sex differences in eating disorders?

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By the end of today’s class, you should be able to:

1. discuss the relationships between depression and agency, unmitigated agency, communion, and unmitigated communion.

2. list the diagnostic criteria, age of onset, and health correlates of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.

3. discuss sex differences in rates of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.

4. identify risk factors for eating disorders.

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7. Gender-Related Traits

Agency: lower levels of depression (due to better problem-solving skills; Bromberger & Matthews, 1996; Marcotte et al., 1999).

Unmitigated agency: research not available.

Are there sex differences in depression? (continued)

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Communion: unrelated to depression (Bassoff & Glass, 1982; Whitley, 1984).

Unmitigated communion: higher levels of depression (due to self-neglect and overinvolvement in others’ problems; Helgeson & Fritz, 1998).

Model of the Relation Between Unmitigated Communion and Depression

(Fritz & Helgeson, 1998)14

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Are there sex differences in eating disorders?

• The DSM V distinguishes between two common eating disorders: anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.

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Anorexia Nervosa

Characterized by:

(a) refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for age and height.

(b) intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat.

(c) disturbance in the way one experiences one’s weight or shape, undue influence of weight or shape on self-evaluation, or denial of seriousness of low weight.

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Afflicts 0.4% of females and 0.04% of males.

Typical onset is in early to late adolescence (14-18 years of age).

Results in damage to the bones, muscles, heart, kidneys, intestines, and brain.

Mortality rate: 5-15% (Brown, Mehler, & Harris, 2000).

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Bulimia Nervosa

Characterized by:

(a) recurrent episodes of binge eating.

(b) recurrent inappropriate compensatory behaviour in order to prevent weight gain (e.g., self-induced

vomiting, misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas; fasting; excessive exercise).

(c) binge eating and compensatory behaviour occur, on average, at least once a week for 3 months.

(d) undue influence of weight or shape on self-evaluation.

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Afflicts 1-1.5% of females and .1% of males.

Typical onset is in late adolescence to early adulthood.

Mortality rate: 3.9% (Crow et al., 2009).

Results in damage to the muscles, heart, intestines, stomach, mouth, throat, and esophagus.

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• The etiology of eating disorders is unclear. However, several “risk factors” have been identified:

1. Genes

Twin studies suggest that eating disorders are heritable (heritability statistic for anorexia: .58-.76; for bulimia: .54-.83; Klump et al., 2001).

• Males and females with eating disorders have a similar age of onset and exhibit similar symptoms.

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2. Demographic Factors

Eating disorders are more prevalent among people of European descent (vs. people of African

American descent); dancers, actors, models, and athletes; and members of sexual minority groups (e.g., gay males; Helgeson, 2009).

There is no clear evidence linking socioeconomic status and education level to eating disorders

(Striegel-Moore & Cachelin, 1999).

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3. Female Gender Role

The female gender role emphasizes: (a) physical attractiveness and (b) concern for others’ opinions.

Although communion is not correlated with disturbed eating (Hepp et al., 2005), unmitigated communion is a risk factor for eating disorders (Helgeson, 2007; Lakkis et al., 1999).

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By the end of today’s class, you should be able to:

1. discuss the relationships between depression and agency, unmitigated agency, communion, and unmitigated communion.

2. list the diagnostic criteria, age of onset, and health correlates of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.

3. discuss sex differences in rates of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.

4. identify risk factors for eating disorders.