Are child sexual experiences related to eating-disordered attitudes and behaviors in a college sample?

Abstract

Clinicians and theorists have suggested a link between child sexual abuse (CSA) and the later development of eating disorders. Finkelhor and Browne (1986) argue that this link is mediated by abuse characteristics, personality variables, and levels of family support. The present study investigated child sexual experiences and family support as predictors of disordered attitudes and behaviors in a well‐functioning female college sample. Abused respondents had higher total scores on the Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI) than nonabused respondents, but a MANOVA revealed no between‐group differences on the EDI subscales. Further, abuse characteristics were either unrelated (e.g., severity) or weakly related (e.g., reaction to abuse) to EDI scores. Family support, especially parental reliability, did predict EDI scores. This was more true for CSA victims. Thus, there appeared to be an interactive relationship between abuse status and family variables in influencing EDI scores.

Co-occurrence of eating disorders and incest: The role of attachment, family environment, and social competencies.

“…Some of these factors have been previously identified as typical of physically or sexually abusive families, including poor attachment (Alexander, 1992), high family conflict and low levels of cohesion and expressiveness (Mollerstrom, Patchner, & Milner, 1992), and poor family organization (Long & Jackson, 1991). Our findings parallel previous research that identified deficits in social adjustment and personal competencies of incest survivors, including problems in dating relationships, disturbed body image (Jackson, Calhoun, Amick, & Maddever, 1990), and interoceptive awareness (Smolak et al, 1990).…”

Co-occurrence of eating disorders and incest: The role of attachment, family environment, and social competencies.

“…Some of these factors have been previously identified as typical of physically or sexually abusive families, including poor attachment (Alexander, 1992), high family conflict and low levels of cohesion and expressiveness (Mollerstrom, Patchner, & Milner, 1992), and poor family organization (Long & Jackson, 1991). Our findings parallel previous research that identified deficits in social adjustment and personal competencies of incest survivors, including problems in dating relationships, disturbed body image (Jackson, Calhoun, Amick, & Maddever, 1990), and interoceptive awareness (Smolak et al, 1990).…”

Relationships between bulimia, childhood sexual abuse and family environment

“…This appears to be consistent with reports that parental unreliability predicts bulimia among CSA victims (Smolak et al, 1990). Some support was obtained for the hypothesis that a chaotic family environment moderated the relationship between CSA and bulimia (i.e., CSA was only associated with bulimia among chaotic families).…”

“…These narrow severity measures were similar to those used in prior research (Smolak et al, 1990). These narrow severity measures were similar to those used in prior research (Smolak et al, 1990).…”

Relationships between bulimia, childhood sexual abuse, and family environment

“…Similarly, Abramson and Lucido (1991) obtained nearly identical percentages of bulimics and nonbulimics reporting childhood sexual experiences (69%), but did obtain a significant correlation between eating behaviors and the total number of childhood sexual experiences. Finally, Smolak, Levine, and Sullins (1990) reported a significant difference between abused and nonabused college students on the Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI), a measure of eating attitudes and behaviors. Unfortunately, this measure did not permit a direct test of the CSA-bulimia association because it does not provide categorical diagnoses of eating disorders.…”

“…Alternatively, dysfunctional family relationships may be powerful enough to account for any obtained relationship between CSA and bulimia. Various other interrelationships are also possible (Smolak et al, 1990).…”

Co-occurrence of eating disorders and incest: The role of attachment, family environment, and social competencies.

“…Some of these factors have been previously identified as typical of physically or sexually abusive families, including poor attachment (Alexander, 1992), high family conflict and low levels of cohesion and expressiveness (Mollerstrom, Patchner, & Milner, 1992), and poor family organization (Long & Jackson, 1991). Our findings parallel previous research that identified deficits in social adjustment and personal competencies of incest survivors, including problems in dating relationships, disturbed body image (Jackson, Calhoun, Amick, & Maddever, 1990), and interoceptive awareness (Smolak et al, 1990).…”

Relationships between bulimia, childhood sexual abuse and family environment

“…This appears to be consistent with reports that parental unreliability predicts bulimia among CSA victims (Smolak et al, 1990). Some support was obtained for the hypothesis that a chaotic family environment moderated the relationship between CSA and bulimia (i.e., CSA was only associated with bulimia among chaotic families).…”

“…These narrow severity measures were similar to those used in prior research (Smolak et al, 1990). These narrow severity measures were similar to those used in prior research (Smolak et al, 1990).…”

Relationships between bulimia, childhood sexual abuse, and family environment

“…Similarly, Abramson and Lucido (1991) obtained nearly identical percentages of bulimics and nonbulimics reporting childhood sexual experiences (69%), but did obtain a significant correlation between eating behaviors and the total number of childhood sexual experiences. Finally, Smolak, Levine, and Sullins (1990) reported a significant difference between abused and nonabused college students on the Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI), a measure of eating attitudes and behaviors. Unfortunately, this measure did not permit a direct test of the CSA-bulimia association because it does not provide categorical diagnoses of eating disorders.…”

“…Alternatively, dysfunctional family relationships may be powerful enough to account for any obtained relationship between CSA and bulimia. Various other interrelationships are also possible (Smolak et al, 1990).…”

Co-occurrence of eating disorders and incest: The role of attachment, family environment, and social competencies.

“…Some of these factors have been previously identified as typical of physically or sexually abusive families, including poor attachment (Alexander, 1992), high family conflict and low levels of cohesion and expressiveness (Mollerstrom, Patchner, & Milner, 1992), and poor family organization (Long & Jackson, 1991). Our findings parallel previous research that identified deficits in social adjustment and personal competencies of incest survivors, including problems in dating relationships, disturbed body image (Jackson, Calhoun, Amick, & Maddever, 1990), and interoceptive awareness (Smolak et al, 1990).…”

Relationships between bulimia, childhood sexual abuse and family environment

“…This appears to be consistent with reports that parental unreliability predicts bulimia among CSA victims (Smolak et al, 1990). Some support was obtained for the hypothesis that a chaotic family environment moderated the relationship between CSA and bulimia (i.e., CSA was only associated with bulimia among chaotic families).…”

“…These narrow severity measures were similar to those used in prior research (Smolak et al, 1990). These narrow severity measures were similar to those used in prior research (Smolak et al, 1990).…”

Relationships between bulimia, childhood sexual abuse, and family environment

“…Similarly, Abramson and Lucido (1991) obtained nearly identical percentages of bulimics and nonbulimics reporting childhood sexual experiences (69%), but did obtain a significant correlation between eating behaviors and the total number of childhood sexual experiences. Finally, Smolak, Levine, and Sullins (1990) reported a significant difference between abused and nonabused college students on the Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI), a measure of eating attitudes and behaviors. Unfortunately, this measure did not permit a direct test of the CSA-bulimia association because it does not provide categorical diagnoses of eating disorders.…”

“…Alternatively, dysfunctional family relationships may be powerful enough to account for any obtained relationship between CSA and bulimia. Various other interrelationships are also possible (Smolak et al, 1990).…”