Avoidance of anxiety and eating disorders.

Abstract

Anorexic and bulimic in-patients, out-patients, and normal dieting females between the ages of 15 and 35 yr. were compared for their avoidance of anxiety. The 1977 Avoidance of Existential Confrontation Scale of Thauberger was used for the subjects to rate themselves in terms of their over-reaction to specific life contingencies. The degree of avoidance was predicted to be relative to the severity of the eating disorder. The in-patients showed a greater avoidance than the out-patients. The out-patients showed a greater degree of avoidance than the normal dieters. It appears that a main concern for recovery of the anorexic or bulimic patient is to accept life's contingencies and to learn problem-solving skills.