Sexual abuse and eating disorders: A review

Abstract

Studies investigating a possible relationship between sexual abuse and eating disorders have reported highly discrepant results. Some variability can be accounted for by methodological issues including diagnostic criteria, study design, and assessment techniques. The heterogeneity of an eating disordered population, especially regarding the comorbidity of eating pathology and personality disorder, is also a factor. Overall results suggest that around 30% of eating disordered patients have been sexually abused in childhood, a figure that is relatively comparable to rates found in normal populations. For some patients there may be a direct link between sexual trauma and eating pathology, but in general sexual abuse is best considered a risk factor in a biopsychosocial etiological model of eating disorders. Complex associations between trauma, self‐regulatory deficits, and psychopathology require further research. © 1993 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Treatment of childhood sexual abuse in anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa: A feminist psychodynamic approach

“…Beyond these unresolved questions of definition and measurement of sexual abuse, to date, insufficient attention has been paid in the eating disorder literature to the fact that the specific impact of sexual abuse on mental health is determined by a wide array of factors including the age at which the abuse occurred, the severity of the abuse, the response of sigruficant others to the abuse, and revictimization to name only a few (Bumam et al, 1988;Cole & Putnam, 1992;Herman, 1992;Waller, 1992). Lastly, we agree with Connors and Morse (1993), who argued that the role of sexual abuse in the etiology of eating disorders needs to be studied together with other variables thought to cause these disorders (e.g., Striegel-Moore, Silberstein, & Rodin, 1986). We believe that a simple determination of presence or absence of abuse is as inadequate toward furthering an understanding of etiology as is the simple determination of whether or not someone has been dieting (not all dieters become eating disordered).…”

Eating Disorders and Trauma History in Women with Perinatal Depression

“…12,16,40,[44][45][46][47] Trauma and abuse history in eating disorders and perinatal depression Women with lifetime histories of EDs are also more likely to report a history of childhood sexual abuse and physical abuse compared with women with no ED history. 48,49 Although both childhood sexual abuse [50][51][52][53][54][55] and physical abuse 49,56,57 occur in individuals with EDs, they are best viewed as nonspecific risk factors for the development of psychopathology. 58,59 Similarly, trauma and abuse histories increase the risk of perinatal depression and PPD and other psychiatric comorbidity.…”

Coming Together to Calm the Hunger: Group Therapy Program for Adults Diagnosed With Anorexia Nervosa

“…The issue is whether a meaningful relationship exists between the two phenomena, or whether it is merely an illusory one because of the prevalence of both in a female population (Connors & Morse, 1993). Some studies have failed to identify a link between childhood sexual abuse and eating disorders (Connors & Morse;Palmer & Oppenheimer, 1992).…”

“…The issue is whether a meaningful relationship exists between the two phenomena, or whether it is merely an illusory one because of the prevalence of both in a female population (Connors & Morse, 1993). Some studies have failed to identify a link between childhood sexual abuse and eating disorders (Connors & Morse;Palmer & Oppenheimer, 1992). Cachelin et al (2005) and Fullerton, Wonderlich, and Gosnell (1995) asserted that from the data it is clear that childhood sexual abuse is neither necessary nor sufficient for the development of AN; however, in a number of cases it may be an important etiological factor (Connors & Morse, 1993).…”

“…Some studies have failed to identify a link between childhood sexual abuse and eating disorders (Connors & Morse;Palmer & Oppenheimer, 1992). Cachelin et al (2005) and Fullerton, Wonderlich, and Gosnell (1995) asserted that from the data it is clear that childhood sexual abuse is neither necessary nor sufficient for the development of AN; however, in a number of cases it may be an important etiological factor (Connors & Morse, 1993). Cachelin et al's study found that not all of the AN participants reported childhood sexual abuse and that some of the control participants did.…”