Dating People with Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa: Attitudes and Beliefs of University Students

ABSTRACT

Attitudes and beliefs about dating people with eating disorders were investigated in men and women using a questionnaire administered to 752 university students. Students believed that people with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa had a difficult time dating, dates would involve conflict, and dating would be a negative experience. Students were more comfortable in casual interactions than more serious dating activities with people with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Men were somewhat comfortable dating people with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, but less so for obesity. Most students believed dating people with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa would not be a positive experience, and men Stigmatized people with eating disorders differently, than did women.