The prevalence of eating disorders and their relationship to sexual abuse among college women

This study examines the relationship of sexual abuse and eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa) in a non-clinical population. Questionnaires were completed by 553 women belonging to 13 sororities at a large southwestern state university and were evaluated with respect to the prevalence of eating disorders and their relationship to sexual abuse. The Bulimia Test (BULIT), Eating Disorders Inventory-2 (EDI-2), and questions from the Women's Life Experiences Longitudinal Interview were used. Women who report severe abuse were found to score significantly higher on the BULIT than those not reporting such abuse. X²(1) = 5.54, p =.019. Women reporting severe abuse also scored higher on the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D) and questions related to alcohol consumption