Implicit family process rules in eating-disordered and non-eating-disordered families.
Family environment has been shown to be one of the factors related to the presence of eating disorders among young-adult females. Clinical experience and theories about eating disorders postulate that implicit family rules are an intricate part of family process that may have a great effect on the creation and maintenance of such problems. This study compared implicit family process rules (specifically rules pertaining to kindness; expressiveness and connection; constraining thoughts, feelings, and self; inappropriate caretaking; and monitoring) in families with a young-adult female diagnosed with an eating disorder-either anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or eating disorder not otherwise specified-and families with a young-adult female without an eating disorder diagnosis. One hundred two families (51 eating disordered and 51 comparison) participated in the study. Mothers, fathers, young-adult female children, and siblings completed the Family Implicit Rules Profile (Harper, Stoll, & Larson, 2007). Results indicated that eating-disordered families are governed by a greater proportion of constraining family rules than are non-eating-disordered families. Additionally, eating-disordered youth reported a lower proportion of facilitative family rules and a higher proportion of constraining family rules than did parents and siblings. Theoretical, research, and clinical implications are discussed.
Gillett
Kyle S
KS
Solstice RTC, 1904 W. Gordon Avenue, Layton, Utah 84041, USA. kyle@solsticertc.com
Harper
James M
JM
Larson
Jeffry H
JH
Berrett
Michael E
ME
Hardman
Randy K
RK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005195:Family Relations; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult