Self-denigratory beliefs following sexual abuse: association with the symptomatology of bulimic disorders.
Reported sexual abuse is associated with bulimic symptomatology. It has been suggested that this association might be due to impaired self-esteem. However, from the evidence to date, it appears that general self-esteem may be too "blunt" a construct, and that more specific psychological mediators need to be considered. This study compares the values of a measure of general self-esteem and a measure of specific self-denigratory beliefs consequent upon sexual abuse in predicting levels of eating psychopathology in eating-disordered women. Self-esteem was associated with the level of general eating attitudes, whereas specific self-denigratory beliefs were associated with the frequency of vomiting. Neither variable adequately predicted the frequency of binging.
Pitts
C
C
South Manchester District Health Authority, U.K.
Waller
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image; D002032:Bulimia / Q000523:psychology*; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept