Sexual functioning and attitudes of eating-disordered women: a follow-up study

The sexual experiences and attitudes of eating disorder patients are receiving increased professional attention. However, empirical work in this area has generally focused on these patients at the point of initial evaluation. In the current study we report the results of a follow-up questionnaire completed by women who had been treated in our clinic (N = 42) for either anorexia nervosa (restricting type) or bulimia nervosa (purging type). We found that former anorectic patients were less likely to return the questionnaire and, of those who did, there was a trend toward anorectic women's being less likely to be in a romantic/erotic relationship. Almost all of the women had engaged in sexual intercourse, and former anorectic patients did not differ from bulimics with regard to age at first coitus. Anorectics were less likely than bulimics to have engaged in masturbation and also scored lower on a measure of sexual esteem. Although there were no differences between the two groups with regard to current level of sexual functioning, erotophobia/erotophilia, or sexual satisfaction, the women in our sample exhibited less sexual interest and more negative affect during sex than did a normative sample. Also, nearly 40% of our sample indicated clinically significant levels of sexual discord with their current partner. Results are discussed with regard to prior research, interventions, and further study.