Graduation Term
Spring 2025
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Department of Sociology and Anthropology: Sociology
Committee Chair
Susan Sprecher
Committee Member
Wib Leonard
Committee Member
Marion Willetts
Abstract
Stigma toward those with binge eating disorder and a gender bias toward eating disorders can lead to misattribution of symptoms as well as a reduced likelihood of having the diagnosis of eating disorders (Currin, Schmidt, and Waller 2007). Symptoms of binge eating, such as being overweight, have different social meanings than an eating disorder that can lead to being underweight, such as anorexia (Saguy and Gruys 2010). In addition, social support has been previously found to have positive relationships with eating disorder recovery. The purpose of this study was to understand differences in people’s perceptions of targets who are overweight and have binge eating disorder versus those who are overweight and do not have binge eating disorder. This study also examines social relations and helping behaviors toward a hypothetical target. This was done through the vignette method, in which the binge eating disorder status and the gender of a hypothetical student were manipulated. Each participant was randomly assigned one vignette. The sample consisted of a majority of 18–26-year-olds from media websites for posting surveys as well as a pool of ISU students. Participants’ perceptions were measured through various dependent variables, such as: characteristics of the hypothetical person (e.g. attractive, disciplined, likeable), the perceptions of the eating behavior of the hypothetical person (e.g. control, responsibility, blame), and perceptions of the social relations and support toward the target (e.g. social attractiveness, intention to help if they were a friend). Participants also completed the Compassionate Love Scale (Sprecher and Fehr 2005) and demographic questions. The results indicated that there is stigma toward a person with binge eating disorder (e.g. more positive characteristics were attributed toward the target without binge eating disorder). The findings were similar regardless of the gender of the target. Additionally, compassionate love had a positive correlation with prosocial behaviors, such as helping.
Access Type
Thesis-Open Access
Recommended Citation
Hennessy, Erin Rose, "Perceptions of a Hypothetical Student as a Function of Binge Eating Disorder and Gender" (2025). Theses and Dissertations. 2112.
https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/etd/2112
