Differences in family functioning among bulimics, repeat dieters, and nondieters

This article examined bulimics' (n = 31) perceptions of how their families function relative to a group of women at risk for developing bulimia (repeat dieters) (n = 61) and a group not at risk for an eating disorder (nondieters) (n = 59). The results indicated that bulimics perceive their families to be more dysfunctional than do repeat dieters or nondieters. The bulimics reported poorer general family functioning, more affective involvement, less affective responsiveness, poorer family communication, poorer problem-solving skills, and poorer behavior control. The hypothesis that repeat dieters would evidence more family dysfunction relative to the nondieters was not supported. The results are discussed in terms of how family variables may contribute etiologically to bulimia.