Bulimia and Impulsive Behaviour in Middle Adolescence

Abstract

Background: In clinical samples, bulimia seems to be associated with various dyscontrol behaviours suggesting weakness in impulse control. Population studies of adolescents, however, are needed. We evaluated the association between self-reported bulimic behaviour and a number of dyscontrol behaviours, namely bullying, truancy, excessive drinking and sexual disinhibition among adolescents aged 14–16. This is the first study on bulimia and impulsivity in a large non-selected adolescent population sample. Methods: A self-report questionnaire was administered to a representative population sample of 14- to 16-year-old adolescents (pupils of the 8th and the 9th grades of secondary school in four different regions in Finland). 4,453 girls and 4,334 boys aged 14–16 participated. The participation rate was 85.5%. Results: Bulimic behaviour was associated with bullying, truancy, excessive drinking and sexual disinhibition among both sexes. Odds ratios for bulimic-type eating pathology according to each of these behaviours varied between 1.7 and 4.1. The more dyscontrol behaviours occurred simultaneously, the more likely was bulimic-type eating pathology. Conclusions: There is an association between bulimic behaviour and dyscontrol behaviours in the general population of adolescent girls and boys.

Bullying Girls – Changes after Brief Strategic Family Therapy: A Randomized, Prospective, Controlled Trial with One-Year Follow-Up

“…The initial measurements support previous fi ndings that girls with bullying behavior often were bullying victims themselves [23] , show relatively high violence-related behavior and sexual risk-taking behavior levels [4,5,[24][25][26] and anger levels [10,19] , in addition to disturbed interpersonal relationship patterns [11,20] . Their initial general health perceptions, vitality, social functioning, role limitations resulting from emotional problems and mental health were distinctly below normal values [8,21] .…”

“…Analysis of the sociodemographic, psychiatric, and risk-taking behavior data permitted the two groups to be compared [5,22,23] . The initial measurements support previous fi ndings that girls with bullying behavior often were bullying victims themselves [23] , show relatively high violence-related behavior and sexual risk-taking behavior levels [4,5,[24][25][26] and anger levels [10,19] , in addition to disturbed interpersonal relationship patterns [11,20] .…”

Aggressiveness, Anger and Eating Disorders: A Review

“…A recent study on a large non-selected adolescent population sample found an association between bulimic behaviours and discontrol behaviours (bullying, truancy, excessive drinking, sexual dishinibition) [105] . Moreover, according to Dawe and Loxton [106] , impulsivity seems to be a key feature of a number of axis I and II psychiatric disorders, such as EDs with binging/purging, substance use disorders and borderline personality disorder.…”

Impulsivity as an underlying factor in the relationship between disordered eating and sexual behavior

“…Women with bulimia nervosa (BN) have been shown to engage in disinhibited behaviors associated with high negative consequences, such as promiscuous sexual behaviors (Kaltiala-Heino, Rissanen, Rimpelae, & Rantanen, 2003). When compared with controls, women with BN have reported greater sexual activity and sexual experience (Abraham et al, 1985;Coovert, Kinder, & Thompson, 1989;Dykens & Gerrard, 1986;Irving, McCluskey-Fawcett, & Thissen, 1990).…”

“…This hypothesis is supported by the fact that both increased sexual behaviors (Cooper, Wood, Orcutt, & Albino, 2003;Hoyle, Fejfar, & Miller, 2000;White & Johnson, 1988;Wulfert, Safren, Brown, & Wan, 1999) and BN (Brewerton, Hand, & Bishop, 1993;KaltialaHeino et al, 2003;Peñ as-Liedó, Vaz, Ramos, & Waller, 2002) show consistent and significant relationships with impulsivity. Likewise, studies have shown that women with BN and individuals who engage in risky sexual behavior both have increased levels of impulsivity and disinhibition (Brewerton et al, 1993;Kaltiala-Heino et al, 2003;White & Johnson, 1988;Wulfert et al, 1999). Impulsivity may, therefore, underlie observed relationships between disordered eating behaviors common to BN (i.e., binge eating and compensatory behaviors) and sexual behaviors.…”