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Sexual abuse and eating disorders: a review
1Illinois School of Professional Psychology, Chicago.
The International Journal of Eating Disorders
|January 1, 1993
Summary
Childhood sexual abuse is reported in about 30% of eating disorder patients, similar to general populations. It
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Investigating the link between childhood sexual abuse and eating disorders yields inconsistent findings.
- Methodological variations (diagnostic criteria, study design, assessment) contribute to result discrepancies.
- Eating disorder population heterogeneity, particularly comorbid personality disorders, complicates analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize research on the relationship between sexual abuse and eating disorders.
- To identify factors contributing to discrepant study results.
- To contextualize sexual abuse within etiological models of eating disorders.
Main Methods:
- Review of studies examining sexual abuse and eating disorders.
- Analysis of methodological factors influencing study outcomes.
- Comparison of prevalence rates in clinical and general populations.
Main Results:
- Approximately 30% of patients with eating disorders report childhood sexual abuse, comparable to general population rates.
- Methodological inconsistencies and population heterogeneity contribute to variable findings.
- A direct causal link is not universally established, but sexual abuse is a significant risk factor.
Conclusions:
- Sexual abuse is a potential risk factor, not a sole cause, in the biopsychosocial model of eating disorders.
- Further research is needed to understand the complex interplay of trauma, self-regulation, and psychopathology.
- Clinical and research approaches should consider the nuanced role of trauma in eating disorder etiology.