Accounts of experiences of bulimia: a discourse analytic study.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the variety of versions of bulimia constructed by participants, to suggest functions and consequences of these constructions, and to examine the sociocultural ideologies evident in participants' discourse.


METHODS
Ten women and one man were interviewed about their experiences of bulimia. Transcribed interviews were analyzed using a discourse analytic approach.


RESULTS
Five dominant ways of talking about bulimia were identified: Individuals were constructed as victims of bulimia, women were constructed as victims of social stereotypes, bulimia was constructed as a damaging action one performs on oneself, bulimia was constructed as a personality trait of individuals, and bulimia was marginalized as abnormal and disgusting.


CONCLUSIONS
Sociocultural ideologies evident in participants' accounts included the valuing of individual will-power and self-mastery and the construction of a mind-body dichotomy entailing the need to control the latter. The analysis emphasizes the importance of considering the sociocultural context within which psychological problems occur.
Department of Psychology, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia.
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Brooks
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LeCouteur
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Hepworth
D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image; D002032:Bulimia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D019222:Mind-Body Relations, Metaphysical; D009042:Motivation; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012803:Sick Role; D012945:Social Values; D013240:Stereotyping