Gender differences in relationships among parenting dimensions, disordered eating, and psychological factors in adolescents: a network analysis

Disordered eating (DE) is prevalent among adolescents and often linked to parenting dimensions. Proximal psychological factors such as self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and sleep quality are associated with DE. However, the interplay between parenting dimensions and these psychological factors remains unclear. This study used a network approach to examine how parenting dimensions are associated with proximal psychological factors in relation to DE in Chinese adolescents, and to explore potential gender differences. A total of 5148 adolescents aged 12–20 were included in the analysis. Network analysis was employed to construct basic networks of parenting dimensions and DE, and extended networks incorporating proximal psychological factors. Bridge strength indices were calculated to identify bridge nodes. Network comparison tests were used to explore gender differences in network structure and strength. In the basic networks, maternal rejection showed the strongest association with DE symptom “self-induced vomiting”. Gender differences were observed in the basic network, with boys’ DE symptoms linked to both maternal and paternal parenting dimensions, while girls’ DE symptoms were more associated with maternal parenting dimensions. When psychological factors were included, self-esteem and sleep quality emerged as key bridge variables connecting parenting dimensions and DE. Gender-specific patterns were observed: in boys, self-esteem was the primary bridge node, whereas in girls, sleep quality was the strongest bridge node. No significant global differences were found between gender networks, but several edge variations revealed distinct gender-specific associations. Parenting dimensions are closely linked to adolescents’ disordered eating through psychological factors such as self-esteem and sleep quality. Gender-specific associations suggest that prevention efforts should focus on both parental influences and self-esteem for boys, and maternal influences and sleep quality for girls. Disordered eating is common in teenagers and may be influenced by parenting and mental wellbeing. This study used network analysis to explore how parenting dimensions are linked to disordered eating in Chinese adolescents, and whether psychological factors such as self-esteem help explain this link. 5148 adolescents aged 12–20 participanted in the study. In the direct association, maternal rejection was most consistently associated with disordered eating across all groups. Self-esteem and sleep quality were identified as important bridge nodes in connecting parenting with disordered eating. Some differences were found between girls and boys: self-esteem was a key factor connecting parenting to disordered eating, while for girls, sleep quality played a more prominent role in this connection. These findings suggest that support and prevention should consider parenting dimension, self-esteem, and sleep quality.