[Personal child-related motives and attitudes in females with eating disorders--indicators for gender role conflicts?].

In the context of the etiology of eating disorders it is common to discuss emotional conflicts related to the identification with the female gender role. Based upon this theoretical background this study was designed to examine the attitudes of 46 females suffering from anorexia or bulimia towards their wish to have children. It was assumed that the personal evaluation of motherhood and attitudes towards own children might reflect one important aspect of the identification with the female gender role. The results of this study are based on the "Leipziger Fragebogen zu Kinderwunschmotiven" and the "Leipziger Fragebogen zu Einstellungen zum Kinderwunsch" by Stöbel-Richter and Brähler and suggest that females suffering from eating disorders are more likely to refuse traditional concepts of the female gender role, especially a traditional concept of motherhood.