A comparative analysis of intimate behavior among female bulimics in residential treatment, female bulimics in outpatient therapy, and non-eating disordered women
Abstract
Clinical and empirical evidence suggest that bulimic women experience difficulty with interpersonal relationships. In this study, I attempted to discern whether bulimic women have greater relational difficulties than do women without eating disorders. Volunteers constituted one of three groups: 40 bulimics in the first week of treatment in a residential treatment center, 16 bulimics in outpatient therapy, and 83 non-eating disordered females. Participants completed these self-report inventories: McGill's Disclosure Questionnaire, Eating Disorder Inventory, Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale, and Body Esteem Scale. Analysis of covariance revealed that inpatient bulimics disclosed significantly less information to their spouse or intimate other than did outpatient bulimics and non-eating disordered women. Inpatient bulimics also shared significantly less information with their parents and female friends than did the non-eating disordered comparison group. The research also demonstrated significant differences in perceived family environment and body esteem among the groups. The relationship between these factors and intimacy was examined.
Subject Area
Educational psychology
Recommended Citation
Santoro, Linda Edith, "A comparative analysis of intimate behavior among female bulimics in residential treatment, female bulimics in outpatient therapy, and non-eating disordered women" (1992). Dissertations available from ProQuest. AAI9227759.
https://repository.upenn.edu/dissertations/AAI9227759