title: The impact of perceived social support and negative life events on bulimic symptoms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the relationship between social support, negative life events, and disordered eating using a longitudinal design. More specifically, we examined whether the interaction between perceived social support and occurrence of negative life events would predict symptoms of eating disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred seventy female undergraduate students completed self-report questionnaires at two time points to assess perceived social support, negative life events experienced, and current psychopathology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Low social support and a greater number of negative life events interacted to predict increased bulimic symptoms, but not restrictive eating tendencies or symptoms of depression or anxiety.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low perceived social support in the face of negative events may exacerbate bulimic symptoms. Management of interpersonal problems and the enhancement of social skills may be important targets in the treatment of eating disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 West Call Street, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA. bodell@psy.fsu.edu
authors.forename: Lindsay P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Bodell
authors.forename: April R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Jill M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Holm-Denoma
authors.forename: Kathryn H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Joiner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D002032:Bulimia / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult