Anger and bulimic psychopathology: gender differences in a nonclinical group

The current study addressed the link between anger and bulimic psychopathology between young adult men and women.

Volunteers (125 males and 125 females) completed two self-report questionnaires measuring anger (State Trait Anger Inventory [STAXI]) and bulimic attitudes and behaviors (Bulimic Investigatory Test, Edinburgh [BITE]).

Although overall levels of anger did not differ broadly across genders, bulimic attitudes were associated with state anger in men but with anger suppression in women.

Men appear to engage in bulimic behaviors to reduce anger states, whereas women appear to use such behaviors to reduce the likelihood of anger states from arising. Further experimental validation of these findings is required in both clinical and nonclinical groups.