Hostname: page-component-f554764f5-rj9fg Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-04-17T00:59:50.671Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Sexual Abuse as a Factor in Eating Disorders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Glenn Waller
Glenn Waller*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Manchester
*
Department of Clinical Psychology, University Hospital of South Manchester, Nell Lane, West Didsbury, Manchester M20 8LR
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Clinicians have reported a link between sexual abuse and eating disorders, but research evidence to date has been equivocal in supporting that link. This study presents data on reported sexual abuse from 67 anorexic and bulimic patients. Bulimics were substantially more likely to report a history of unwanted sexual experience than anorexics. The method used (clinical interview v. questionnaire) did not affect reported rates of abuse. It is suggested that sexual abuse per se may not cause eating disorders, but may determine the nature of those disorders when they have been prompted by other factors.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 159 , Issue 5 , November 1991 , pp. 664 - 671
Copyright
Copyright © 1991 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

American Psychiatric Association (1987) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3rd edn, revised) (DSM–III–R). Washington, DC: APA.Google Scholar
Bentovim, A. (1988) Understanding the phenomenon of sexual abuse - a family systems view of causation. In Child Sexual Abuse within the Family (eds Bentovim, A., Elton, A., Hildebrand, J., et al). London: John Wright.Google Scholar
Bentovim, A. & Boston, P. (1988) Sexual abuse – basic issues – characteristics of children and families. In Child Sexual Abuse within the Family (eds Bentovim, A., Elton, A., Hildebrand, J., et al). London: John Wright.Google Scholar
Calam, R. & Slade, P. (1987) Eating problems and sexual experience: some relationships. British Review of Bulimia and Anorexia Nervosa, 2, 37–43.Google Scholar
Calam, R. & Slade, P. (1989) Sexual experience and eating problems in female undergraduates. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 8, 391–397.Google Scholar
Calam, R., Waller, G., Slade, P., et al (1990) Eating disorders and perceived relationships with parents. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 9, 479–485.3.0.CO;2-I>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fairburn, C. G. (1986) Diagnostic criteria. In Current Approaches: Bulimia Nervosa (eds Downey, L. J. & Malkin, J. C.). Southampton: Duphar.Google Scholar
Finkelhor, D. (1986) A Sourcebook on Child Sexual Abuse. Beverly Hills: Sage.Google Scholar
Finn, S., Hartmann, M., Leon, G., et al (1986) Eating disorders and sexual abuse: lack of confirmation for a clinical hypothesis. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 5, 1051–1060.Google Scholar
Garner, D. (1985) Individual psychotherapy for anorexia nervosa. Journal of Psychiatric Resarch, 19, 423–433.Google Scholar
Goldfarb, L. A. (1987) Sexual abuse antecedent to anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and compulsive overeating: three case reports. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 6, 675–680.Google Scholar
Hsu, L. K. G. (1983) The aetiology of anorexia nervosa. Psychological Medicine, 13, 231–238.Google ScholarPubMed
Jacobson, A. & Richardson, B. (1987) Assault experience of 100 psychiatric inpatients: evidence of the need for routine inquiry. American Journal of Psychiatry, 144, 908–913.Google Scholar
Jehu, D. (1988) Beyond Sexual Abuse: Therapy with Women who Were Childhood Victims. Chichester: John Wiley.Google Scholar
Kog, E. & Vandereycken, W. (1985) Family characteristics of anorexia nervosa and bulimia: a review of the research literature. Clinical Psychology Review, 5, 159–180.Google Scholar
Lacey, J. H. (1986) Pathogenesis. In Current Approaches: Bulimia Nervosa (eds Downey, L. J. & Malkin, J. C.). Southampton: Duphar.Google Scholar
MacFarlane, K. & Waterman, J. (1986) Sexual Abuse of Young Children. London: Cassell.Google Scholar
Mickalide, A. D. & Andersen, A. E. (1985) Subgroups of anorexia nervosa and bulimia: Validity and utility. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 19, 121–128.Google Scholar
Minuchin, S., Rosman, B. L. & Baker, L. (1978) Psychosomatic Families. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mullen, P. E., Romans-Clarkson, S. E., Walton, V. A., et al (1988) Impact of sexual and physical abuse on women's mental health. Lancet, i, 841–845.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Oppenheimer, R., Howells, K., Palmer, R. L., et al (1985) Adverse sexual experience in childhood and clinical eating disorders: A preliminary description. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 19, 357–361.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Owens, R. G. & Ashcroft, J. B. (1982) Functional analysis in applied psychology. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 21, 181–189.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Palazzoli, M. S. (1974) Self-Starvation: From the Intrapsychic to the Transpersonal Approach to Anorexia Nervosa. Haywards Heath: Human Context Books.Google Scholar
Palazzoli, M. S., Boscolo, L., Cecchin, G., et al (1978) Paradox and Counter-Paradox. Aronson: New York.Google Scholar
Rosenfeld, A. A. (1979) Incidence of a history of incest among 18 female psychiatric patients. American Journal of Psychiatry, 136, 791–795.Google ScholarPubMed
Rosenfeld, A. A., Nadelson, C. C. & Krieger, M. (1979) Fantasy and reality in patients' reports of incest. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 40, 159–164.Google Scholar
Russell, D. (1983) Incidence and prevalence of intrafamilial and extrafamilial sexual abuse of female children. Child Abuse and Neglect, 7, 133–146.Google Scholar
Russell, G. F. M. (1985) The changing nature of anorexia nervosa: an introduction to the conference. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 19, 101–109.Google Scholar
Schechter, J. O., Schwartz, H. P. & Greenfeld, D. G. (1987) Sexual assault and anorexia nervosa. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 6, 313–316.Google Scholar
Slade, P. (1982) Towards a functional analysis of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 21, 167–179.Google Scholar
Smolak, L., Levine, M. P. & Sullins, E. (1990) Are child sexual experiences related to eating-disordered attitudes and behaviours in a college sample? International Journal of Eating Disorders, 9, 167–178.3.0.CO;2-W>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Szmukler, G. I., Eisler, I., Russell, G. F. M., et al (1985) Anorexia nervosa, parental ‘expressed emotion’ and dropping out of treatment. British Journal of Psychiatry, 147, 265–271.Google Scholar
Waller, G., Calam, R. & Slade, P. (1989) Family interaction and eating disorders. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 28, 285–286.Google Scholar
Waller, G., Slade, P. & Calam, R. (1990) Family adaptability and cohesion: Relation to eating attitudes and disorders. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 9, 225–228.Google Scholar
Weishaar, M. E. & Beck, A. T. (1986) Cognitive therapy. In Cognitive Behavioural Approaches to Psychotherapy (eds Dryden, W. & Golden, W.). London: Harper & Row.Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.