Family dysfunction and bulimic psychopathology: the mediating role of shame.
OBJECTIVE
Although disturbed family function has some association with bulimic psychopathology, the psychological mechanisms that account for that link are not clear. This study explores the hypothesis that shame acts as a mediator in that relationship, whereas shame-proneness is a moderator variable.


METHODS
The participants were 139 nonclinical women. Each completed measures of perceived family function, shame-proneness, internalized shame, and bulimic psychopathology. Regression analyses were used to test for the mediating and moderating effects of shame.


RESULTS
The findings were compatible with a model where shame-proneness acts as a moderator and internalized shame is a perfect mediator in the link between paternal overprotection and bulimic attitudes.


CONCLUSIONS
The experience of shame appears to be a critical element in understanding the relationship between perceived family dysfunction and bulimic psychopathology. Where individuals perceive their families as problematic, it may be clinically valuable to focus on shame as a psychological consequence of that experience.
Murray
C
C
Family and Child Psychology Research Centre, City University, London, England. C.Murray@city.ac.uk
Waller
G
G
Legg
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002032:Bulimia / Q000523:psychology*; D004645:Empathy; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012380:Role; D012752:Shame; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires