Profiles of Sexual Disorders and Eating Disorder Symptoms: Associations With Body Image

Although the empirical evidence supporting the co-occurrence of sexual disorders and eating disorders is growing, it is not yet known how often these 2 conditions co-occur, and whether the comorbidities of sexual disorders and eating disorders differ in any specific ways.

To examine the co-occurrence of sexual disorders and eating disorders.

In the current study, we used latent profile analysis to identify distinct profiles of sexual disorders and eating disorder symptoms among a large non-clinical sample of women (n = 985). We also examined how these profiles differed in terms of body image self-consciousness. The study was conducted as an online survey among a convenience sample of Israeli women.

For sexual disorders we used the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale, and for eating disorders we used the Eating Disorders Inventory 2.

Latent profile analysis revealed 4 profiles: no disorder (low levels of sexual disorders and eating disorder symptoms), eating disorder symptoms (low levels of sexual disorders and high levels of eating disorder symptoms), sexual disorders (high levels of sexual disorders and low levels of eating disorder symptoms), and comorbidity (high levels of both sexual disorders and eating disorder symptoms). Women in the comorbidity group had significantly more body image self-consciousness during sexual activity than did women in the other groups.

The 4 profiles identified in the study support the co-occurrence of sexual disorders and eating disorder symptoms, yet also raise many clinical considerations. Limitations of the study, directions for future research, and clinical implications are discussed. Gewirtz-Meydan A, Spivak-Lavi Z. Profiles of Sexual Disorders and Eating Disorder Symptoms: Associations With Body Image. J Sex Med 2021;18:1364-1373.