title: Examining Associations of Sexual Attraction and Attitudes on Women's Disordered Eating Behavior.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to expand the scant research on disordered eating in women identifying same-sex sexual attractions.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used multiple linear regressions to explore potential mechanisms driving disordered eating--both explicit and implicit weight bias and heterosexism--in a cross-sectional, online-recruited community sample of women (N = 437). Participants endorsed a range of sexual attractions from exclusively opposite-sex (21.1%) to exclusively same-sex (19.5%) attraction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Findings revealed no associations between sexual attraction and disordered eating. Awareness of sociocultural norms valuing thinness accounted for disordered eating for all women, regardless of sexual attraction, and was influenced by attitudes regarding weight. Among women endorsing same-sex attractions, self-reported internalized heterosexism influenced disordered eating.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings contradict long-held beliefs that same-sex attracted women are protected from disordered eating. They emphasize a universal risk, for all women, of sociocultural norms valuing thinness, as well as the risk of internalized heterosexism among same-sex attracted women.
authors.affiliation: VA Boston Healthcare System.
authors.forename: Sarah M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Bankoff
authors.affiliation: Suffolk University.
authors.forename: Amy K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.affiliation: Suffolk University.
authors.forename: Lance P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Swenson
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts Boston.|The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health.
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Pantalone
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: disordered eating; heterosexism; implicit attitudes; sexual attractions; women