Sex/gender-specific association between emotion regulation strategies and eating disorders symptoms: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE

Emotion regulation strategies (ERS) play a role in the development and maintenance of eating disorder (ED) symptoms. Findings on their associations with sex/gender and sex/gender differences in ERS usage in terms of ED symptoms remain unclear. This review aims to summarize the current state of knowledge on the associations between ERS and ED symptoms in both men and women, and the role of sex/gender differences in these associations.

METHODS

APA PsycInfo, APA PsycArticles, Academic Search Ultimate, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition, MasterFILE Premier, MEDLINE databases for studies published up to September 26, 2024 were reviewed. Included studies quantitatively assessed at least one ERS and ED symptoms and involved adult male and female participants. Excluded were animal studies, non-original research, studies involving only children or adolescents, qualitative studies, and studies that measured emotion regulation only as a general construct. Risk of bias was assessed. After screening 5,394 articles (from an initial 9,627), 16 studies were included.

RESULTS

Findings from 16 studies (10,974 participants) suggest that both sex/gender and ERS are predictors of ED symptoms. However, data on sex/gender differences in the use of ERS are insufficient to draw consistent conclusions.

DISCUSSION: The findings highlight the need for future research involving sex/gender -balanced samples. Further studies should include comparative analyses and explore the potential mediating and moderating roles of both ERS and sex/gender in the development of ED symptoms.