Sexual abuse, bulimic symptoms, depression and satisfaction in adult relationships.

This study explored the role of depression as a mediator between self-reported sexual abuse and bulimic symptoms. Secondly, the study examined whether there was an association between sexual abuse, bulimic symptoms, or depression and satisfaction in relationships and avoidance of sexual interactions. Women (n=297) who reported experiencing bulimic symptoms and/or depression and women who were not symptomatic completed measures on sexual abuse, bulimic symptoms, depression, satisfaction in partner relationships and avoidance of sexual interactions. A path model analysis indicated that there were direct relationships between sexual abuse and depression, depression and low satisfaction in relationships and avoidance of sexual interactions. Sexual abuse was not directly related to bulimic symptoms when depression was included in the model. Nor was sexual abuse directly related to relationship difficulties. The findings of this study support a model of non-specific pathways between sexual abuse and bulimic symptoms.

An examination of the association between eating problems, negative mood, weight and sleeping quality in young women and men.

The aim of this study was to determine if low mood influenced the association between eating problem symptoms and self report sleeping quality in a large group of young women and men. A group of 381 female and male undergraduate students completed a set of self-report inventories in order to test a model developed for this study observing the association between eating problems, low mood, restricted dieting, weight and self-reported sleeping quality using a path analysis model. The model that best fit the data indicated that eating problem symptoms were associated with low mood and low mood was related to sleeping quality. There was also a direct association between eating problems and sleeping quality but this was reduced by the presence of low mood in the equation. There were no other direct relationships with sleeping quality but there was an association between low mood and low weight. There were also differences reported between men and women on sleeping quality suggesting that women in this sample reported more sleeping difficulties than men. In all this research demonstrates with a large non-clinical sample the links between eating problems, mood and sleeping difficulties.

Friendship clique and peer influences on body image concerns, dietary restraint, extreme weight-loss behaviors, and binge eating in adolescent girls.

This study explored friendship variables in relation to body image, dietary restraint, extreme weight-loss behaviors (EWEBs), and binge eating in adolescent girls. From 523 girls, 79 friendship cliques were identified using social network analysis. Participants completed questionnaires that assessed body image concerns, eating, friendship relations, and psychological family, and media variables. Similarity was greater for within than for between friendship cliques for body image concerns, dietary restraint, and EWLBs, but not for binge eating. Cliques high in body image concerns and dieting manifested these concerns in ways consistent with a high weight/shape-preoccupied subculture. Friendship attitudes contributed significantly to the prediction of individual body image concern and eating behaviors. Use of EWLBs by friends predicted an individual's own level of use.

Depression, guilt, and self-management of pleasant and unpleasant events.

The relation of subjects' depression and guilt to their choice to delay unpleasant and pleasant events was examined. Ninety-one college students chose to receive punishments and gratifications immediately or a week later. Depression, primarily in males, was related to a present orientation rather than a future orientation, namely, the choice of delayed punishments over immediate punishments and of immediate small rewards over large delayed rewards. This result supported the hypothesis that depressed individuals will attempt to correct a current aversive state rather than maximize long-term gains. High guilt in males was related to the choice of immediate punishment. The results are consistent with the view that behavior choices are determined in part by anticipated internal affective consequences.

Intimacy patterns and relationship satisfaction of women with eating problems and the mediating effects of depression, trait anxiety and social anxiety.

The association between eating problems; and intimacy and relationship styles was examined. Young adult females (n = 360) completed the Adult Attachment Style (AAS), questionnaire; questions on satisfaction with intimacy; the Sexual Attitude Scale; items on sexual avoidance; a set of six descriptions for mother, friend, and partner; and measures of depression, general anxiety, social anxiety, and eating problems. Women with greater eating problems described more difficulties in intimate relationships including less satisfaction with closeness, more discomfort in close intimate relationships, and less positive descriptions of friend and mother. When depression, general anxiety, and social anxiety were entered first in a regression, intimacy measures no longer added unique variance. However, public self-consciousness predicted over and above general affect and social anxiety measures. Results were consistent with a mediator model in which intimacy difficulties for women with eating problems are explained by depression, trait anxiety, and public self-consciousness.

Why do adolescent girls watch their weight? An interview study examining sociocultural pressures to be thin.

Body concerns, dieting, and weight watching were examined in 30 year 10 adolescent girls. Semistructured interviews consisting of open-ended and rated questions assessed descriptions of and reasons for weight loss attempts, with an emphasis on noting sociocultural influences. Audiotaped and transcribed interviews were assessed for themes, coded and rated. Findings suggested a strong role of sociocultural influences leading to both unhealthy and healthy body attitudes and eating behaviors. Media and fashion were reported to exert the strongest pressures to be thin for subjects. While a few subjects reported direct pressures to diet from friends and parents, indirect social influences were more common. These influences included social comparison, joint dieting and avoidance of social disapproval.

Predictors of outcome in the treatment of bulimia nervosa.

Outcome predictors of a cognitive behavioural group treatment for bulimia nervosa were examined. Pre-treatment self-esteem, binge frequency and ineffectiveness, but not duration of disorder, significantly predicted outcome on at least one measure (binge frequency or overall eating pathology) at post-treatment and/or three-month follow-up. The results are related to previous studies and to theories of maintenance of the disorder.

Examination of a model of multiple sociocultural influences on adolescent girls' body dissatisfaction and dietary restraint.

This study examined the perceived role of three types of sociocultural agents (peers, parents, and media) in influencing body dissatisfaction and dietary restraint in adolescent girls. Participants were 577 grade 10 girls from six schools who completed questionnaires in class and had height and weight measured. Two path analyses resulted in a similar pattern. While current body size strongly predicted ideal body size and body dissatisfaction, perceived influence of multiple sociocultural agents regarding thinness also had a direct relationship with body ideal and dissatisfaction. Dietary restraint was predicted directly from body dissatisfaction and sociocultural influences. Peers, parents, and media varied in their perceived influence. The findings support the idea that those girls who show the most body dissatisfaction and dietary restraint live in a subculture supporting a thin ideal and encouraging dieting.

Test of the neurolinguistic programming hypothesis that eye-movements relate to processing imagery.

Bandler and Grinder's hypothesis that eye-movements reflect sensory processing was examined. 28 volunteers first memorized and then recalled visual, auditory, and kinesthetic stimuli. Changes in eye-positions during recall were videotaped and categorized by two raters into positions hypothesized by Bandler and Grinder's model to represent visual, auditory, and kinesthetic recall. Planned contrast analyses suggested that visual stimulus items, when recalled, elicited significantly more upward eye-positions and stares than auditory and kinesthetic items. Auditory and kinesthetic items, however, did not elicit more changes in eye-position hypothesized by the model to represent auditory and kinesthetic recall, respectively.

Risk factors for eating disorders in Greek- and Anglo-Australian adolescent girls.

Past research indicates ethnicity may be related to eating disorder and related risk factors. The present study examines risk factors for eating disorders in 50 Anglo- and 50 Greek-Australian girls (mean age = 13.5 years). The variables assessed included bulimic tendencies, body dissatisfaction, use of extreme weight loss behaviors (EWLBs), self-esteem, depression and family cohesion and adaptability. Cultural eating patterns were also explored. A stepwise discriminant function analysis to examine whether the two groups could be discriminated on these variables was significant and correctly classified 73.9% of the sample, the chief discriminating variables being Pressure to Eat, EWLBs, and Family Adaptability. Univariate analyses indicated differences between the groups on Pressure to Eat, Family Adaptability, and Mother's Shape. Although the groups were discriminable, a number of variables generally associated with eating disorder did not contribute to the function. These data are discussed in terms of cultural assimilation.

Test-retest reliability and internal consistency of a variety of measures of dietary restraint and body concerns in a sample of adolescent girls.

OBJECTIVE: Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were examined in a variety of measures relating to body concerns and dieting and eating behaviors. METHOD: Grade 9 females (n = 363) from nine schools completed questionnaires with the aid of a definitions glossary at Time 1, including the five subscales of the Eating Attitudes Test, the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire-Restraint scale, a variety of measures of current size and ideal size (self, parents) based on the Body Figure Rating Questionnaire, the Appearance Evaluation and Appearance Orientation subscales of the Multidimensional Body Self-Rating Questionnaire, and the Weight Loss Behaviors Scale. Four to 5 weeks later, 164 girls completed the questionnaires again. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Findings indicated adequate internal consistency and high test-retest correlations for all measures. Some measures, particularly those related to body size and dietary restraint, showed a slight increase in group means over time.

A longitudinal study of the role of childhood temperament in the later development of eating concerns.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the relationship between childhood temperament and the later development of eating and body concerns in early adolescent children. METHOD: The Australian Temperament Project has followed a cohort of children from birth, assessing temperament factors such as Negative Emotionality, Persistence, Approach/Withdrawal, and Activity. Using a longitudinal design, the study reports on the relationship between temperament measured from infancy onward and eating and body concerns at 12-13 years of age. Participants (597 girls, 631 boys) completed the Eating Disorders Inventory subscales Drive For Thinness, Body Dissatisfaction, and Bulimia, and an estimate of their current size. Parents described their child's temperament and body size. RESULTS: High Negative Emotionality and low Persistence were the factors most associated with risk status over time, particularly in girls. DISCUSSION: While it is unlikely that temperamental characteristics per se lead to disordered eating, it is argued that in combination with other risk factors, certain temperamental characteristics may increase vulnerability.

Body image satisfaction, dieting beliefs, and weight loss behaviors in adolescent girls and boys.

Body image and weight loss beliefs and behaviors were assessed in 341 female and 221 male high school students. Estimates of body dissatisfaction varied depending on the measurement strategy used. Despite having similar weight distributions around the expected norm, girls were significantly more dissatisfied with their bodies than boys. Body Mass Index was positively related to body dissatisfaction in girls and boys, while higher exercise levels were related to higher body satisfaction in boys. Nearly two-thirds of girls and boys believed being thinner would have an impact on their lives, but the majority of girls believed this would be positive while the majority of boys believed this would be negative. Thirteen percent of female subjects reported using one or more extreme weight loss behavior at least weekly. Beliefs regarding the effectiveness of different weight loss measures were assessed. Weight loss behaviors in this Australian sample appear similar to comparable U.S. samples.