Family interaction among white and ethnic minority adolescents with bulimia nervosa and their parents.
OBJECTIVE
To examine family adaptability, cohesion and satisfaction among white and ethnic minority families of adolescents seeking treatment for BN.


METHODS
Families completed the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales (FACES III) as part of their baseline assessment.


RESULTS
No differences were found between white and ethnic minority patients' perceived and ideal levels of family cohesion and adaptability or level of satisfaction with family functioning, nor were differences found between white and ethnic minority parents on these measures. Both white and ethnic minority patients perceived their families to be less cohesive than did their fathers and their mothers, and their ideal levels of cohesion were lower than that of their fathers and their mothers.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings are consistent with a growing literature on eating disorders among ethnic minorities, which suggests that there may be fewer differences and more similarities among ethnic groups than previously thought.
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. rhoste@yoda.bsd.uchicago.edu
Renee Rienecke
RR
Hoste
Kristen
K
Hewell
Daniel
D
le Grange
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D002641:Chicago; D002648:Child; D005195:Family Relations / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents; D012938:Social Perception; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*