Sexual abuse and eating disorder symptoms: the mediator role of bodily dissatisfaction.
OBJECTIVE
The relationship between sexual abuse and eating disorders remains controversial; the role of intervening variables has often been neglected in past research. This study aimed at investigating the role of bodily dissatisfaction as a mediator effect on the impact of sexual abuse and the reporting of eating disorder symptoms.


METHODS
In a community sample of 126 young women aged 18 to 30 years, we investigated the links between sexual abuse and eating disorders by means of self-compiled measures, including the Eating Attitudes Test, the Bulimic Investigatory Test of Edinburgh, the Body Attitudes Test (BAT), and the revised Hopkins Symptom Checklist (SCL-90-R).


RESULTS
Those who reported sexual abuse in childhood scored higher at the Eating Attitudes Test, the Bulimic Investigatory Test of Edinburgh, and the BAT, compared with those who denied sexual abuse or experienced sexual abuse at an age after puberty. The experience of bodily dissatisfaction, as measured by the BAT, acted as an intervening variable (mediator) between sexual abuse in childhood and eating disorder symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Although caution is required when reading the conclusions that could be drawn from self-reported measures, sexual abuse before puberty could be considered as a risk factor for the development of eating disorder symptoms, inducing revulsion about the body in ways that may intermix with concerns about body shape, size, and weight.
Preti
Antonio
A
Department of Psychology, University of Cagliari, via Is Mirrionis 1, I-09123 Cagliari, Italy. apreti@tin.it
Incani
Elisabetta
E
Camboni
Maria Valeria
MV
Petretto
Donatella Rita
DR
Masala
Carmelo
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002032:Bulimia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D010555:Personality Inventory; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012307:Risk Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic