Relationship between restrained eating and drinking, sex-role stereotypes, and self-control

The present study investigated the relationship between problems controlling eating and drinking and identification with sex-role stereotypes and a general measure of self-control. Measures of restrained eating and drinking, which assess cognitive preoccupations and behavioral attempts at controlling one's behavior, were used as specific measures of problematic control overeating and excessive drinking. The Australian Sex-Role Scale was used to assess negative and positive aspects of masculinity and femininity. Subscale G (Expedient vs. Conscientious) from the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire was used to assess general self-control. The participants were 144 university women (mean age=22 years). The results showed that higher levels of restrained eating and restrained drinking were related to higher scores on positive and negative femininity and to lower self-control. These results suggest that there is a common dimension underlying restrained eating and drinking which reflects a broader struggle with a "yielding" style of control.