Binge Eating As a Coping Mechanism for LGBTQ+ Teens Dealing with Stress: Exercise As a Moderator

Background/Purpose: LGBTQ+ youth experience more stress than non-LGBTQ+ youth due to anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination, which may lead to negative health/mental health outcomes (Peter & Taylor 2014). Kirklewski et. al. (2020) found that exercise has a moderating relationship for mental health among LGBTQ+ youth. Himmelstein et. al (2019) found that cisgender females and transgender teens had poorer health related to eating compared to cisgender males. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) conducted a report in 2018 on LGBTQ+ youth across America. Based on this report, the purpose of this current study is to explore the relationship between stress, binge eating and exercise among LGBTQ+ youth to enhance social work practice approaches for this vulnerable youth population. Specifically, this study will: 1) Analyze the relationship between LGBTQ+ youth identity, stress, binge eating, and exercise; 2) explore binge eating as a coping mechanism; 3) and exercise as a moderator for binge eating among LGBTQ+ youth.

Methods: The survey included LGBTQ+ youth (n = 12,005) from 13-17 years of age. Participants’ gender identities included: female (42%), non-binary (10%), male (20%), Trans Boy (14%), Trans Girl (2%), GenderQueer (8%), Other (4%). Sexual orientation: gay/lesbian (37%), queer (4%), bisexual (34%), pansexual (14%), asexual (5%), questioning (2%), straight (2%), and other (2%). Variables of stress, binge eating, and exercise were examined. LGBTQ+ identity was compared to binge eating, stress, and exercise separately. Binge eating and stress were compared to see if eating was a coping mechanism for stress. Lastly, eating and exercise were compared to see if there was a moderating relationship.

Results:

LGBTQ+ identification, binge eating, and exercise:

Binge eating: Transgender teens were significantly more likely to binge eat than cisgender teens. Males assigned at birth (MAB) who identified as transgender and gay were the most likely to eat due to feeling depressed, worthless, to cope, for comfort, and to avoid distress. MAB who identified as cisgender were the least likely to eat for these reasons.

Exercise: MAB who identified as cisgender exercise the most, while FAB teens exercise the least (except lesbian youth).

Binge eating as a coping mechanism:

LGBTQ+ youth who had more stress on average binge ate. LGBTQ+ youth who reported managing stress better were less likely to binge eat.

Exercise as a moderator:

LGBTQ+ youth who did not avoid exercise were significantly less likely to binge

Conclusion/Implications: Physical activity may be an important component of social work intervention with LGBTQ+ youth. Programming and supports for this population may be enhanced with psycho-education on stress, binge eating and physical activity, and interventions that focus on physical activity interventions. Additionally, Mayer (2001) discusses the role that masculinity/femininity play in problematic eating, where femininity is associated with higher levels of problematic eating. The relationship between binge eating and gender should also be explored with LGBTQ+ youth to support consciousness raising around gender bias. This presentation will explore these themes in relation to social work practice and research with LGBTQ+ youth.