The study aims to investigate the sexual attitudes/problems of men based on a sample of Italian individuals diagnosed with eating disorders (n = 21) compared with a subclinic sample (n=16) and a control group (n=40).

According to factors like age, educational level and a single status of the length of 6 months, subjects were matched and administered the EAT-40, the Beck Depression Inventory and the Sexuality Evaluation Schedule Assessment Monitoring.

Multivariate analysis among groups were conducted. In order to analyse the differences between the experimental groups - men affected by anorexia, bulimia, and subclinic - and the control group, a particular stress was placed on the Sheffé post-hoc test achievements on the main effects.

Differences between groups were found on the depression scale scores (F= 21,505, p<0.001), body image perception (F=11,883 p<0.001), past sexual experiences (F=5,118 p<0.001), expression of pleasure(F=11,223 p<0.001), sexual intercourses (F=5,906 p<0.001), and masturbation (F=9,242 P<0.001).

However, several methodological problems on the structure of questionnaire scales were encountered and a non-parametric extensive analysis was required (Chi square distribution) in order to discriminate qualitative aspects within the significant between-subjects effects. Qualitative differences (P <0.05) were found within the main effects, such as intensity of sexual desire, masturbation in their adolescence/adulthood, attitude towards erotic mental images, feelings of guilt during masturbation, traumatic sexual experiences, sexual dysfunctions.

Clinical data confirm some typical aspects of Eating Disorder in men which are closely related to their sexual attitudes/problems, as highlighted in the literature of reference. The implications of the search findings are discussed and farther research is to be carried out.