Eating Disturbance and Incest

• NCJ Number: 161933
• Journal: Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 11 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1996) Pages: 195-207
• Author(s): S Wonderlich; M A Donaldson; D K Carson; D Staton; L Gertz; L R Leach; M Johnson
• Date Published: 1996
• Length: 13 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examines the relationship between reported history of incest and the subsequent development of bulimic behavior.

Abstract

Sixty-five women between 20 and 57 years of age participated in the study. Thirty-eight of these women were involved in an incest treatment program at a family service center in Fargo, North Dakota. The definition of incest for inclusion in the study emphasized a history of experiencing sexual transaction between a victim and one or more biologically related family members, stepfamily members, or other persons living with the family. Incest victims generally reported having experienced prolonged and frequent physical victimization. The remaining 27 subjects, who all denied any childhood abuse and served as control subjects, were all receiving treatment for problems related to depression, anxiety, personality disturbance, or relationship difficulties at the family service center where the incest victims were treated. Measurement instruments were the Eating Disorders Questionnaire, which assessed both eating symptoms and associated psychopathology; the Eating Disorders Inventory, which assessed personality and attitudinal traits associated with eating disorders; and the Response to Childhood Incest Questionnaire, which measured reactions to the incest experience. Findings show that the incest victims were significantly more likely to binge, vomit, experience a loss of control over eating, and report body dissatisfaction than control subjects. Incest victims also more often showed comorbidity with other maladaptive behaviors, such as alcohol abuse, suicidal gestures, self- mutilation, and cigarette smoking. Results suggest that incest may increase the risk for the development of bulimic behavior and that these eating problems may be a part of a larger pattern of dysfunctional efforts to regulate trauma-related emotional distress. 4 tables and 33 references