Child Sexual Abuse and Bulimic Behaviors: An Exploratory Investigation of the Frequency and Nature of a Relationship

Abstract

ABSTRACT Clinical and research literature have both described a possible relationship between a history of child sexual abuse and the development of eating disorders, particularly Bulimia; however, previous investigations have resulted in widely varied results. Dissociation has been suggested as a possible link between the two phenomena but has rarely been studied empirically. This study used a large non-clinical sample (N = 391) to investigate the frequency with which the two phenomena co-occur and to examine dissociation as a possible explanation for this co-occurrence. Child sexual abuse (CSA) was reported by 16.6% of the sample, while 9.4% reported bulimic behaviors. Results demonstrated minimal overlap between the two groups, however, suggesting that CSA and bulimic tendencies may be separate, albeit not uncommon, phenomena. Further, while higher levels of dissociation were found among those with a history of child sexual abuse (compared to those without a history of child sexual abuse) and with those with bulimic behaviors (compared to those without bulimic behaviors), there was no interaction found between child sexual abuse and bulimic behaviors. Additionally, multiple other trauma symptoms were found to be elevated both among those with a history of child sexual abuse and those with bulimic behaviors.