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Updated: Jun 5, 2026

The Social Dimension of Stress: Experimental Manipulations of Social Support and Social Identity in the Trier Social Stress Test
Published on: November 19, 2015
The impact of perceived social support and negative life events on bulimic symptoms
Lindsay P Bodell1, April R Smith, Jill M Holm-Denoma
1Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 West Call Street, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA. bodell@psy.fsu.edu
Objective:
The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the relationship between social support, negative life events, and disordered eating using a longitudinal design. More specifically, we examined whether the interaction between perceived social support and occurrence of negative life events would predict symptoms of eating disorders.
Method:
Two hundred seventy female undergraduate students completed self-report questionnaires at two time points to assess perceived social support, negative life events experienced, and current psychopathology.
Results:
Low social support and a greater number of negative life events interacted to predict increased bulimic symptoms, but not restrictive eating tendencies or symptoms of depression or anxiety.
Discussion:
Low perceived social support in the face of negative events may exacerbate bulimic symptoms. Management of interpersonal problems and the enhancement of social skills may be important targets in the treatment of eating disorders.
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