Bulimic symptoms in high school females: Prevalence and relationship with multiple measures of psychological health

Abstract

A 118-item survey assessed prevalence of bulimic symptomatology and examined multiple psychological health-related correlates in a sample of 2,042 midwestern high school females. Students completed the Bulimia Test (BULIT), Trait Anxiety Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, a General Self- Efficacy subscale, a Specific (eating) Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Goldfarb Fear of Fat Scale. Based on BULIT scores, 6.3% fell in the high symptom group, 9.3% fell in the moderate symptom group, and 84.4% fell in the low symptom group. High symptom group membership was equally common across high school grades, and racial differences were not found. Most high symptom students reported binge eating and self-induced vomiting at least weekly as well as depression, anxiety, fear of fat, and low self-efficacy. Specific self-efficacy and fear of fat were most strongly correlated with the BULIT and, along with depression, were the three most potent multivariate predictors of the bulimic symptom group. Theory and practice implications are discussed.