Eating behavior and family influences as predictors of bulimic symptoms in female adolescents

This study examined the dieting behavior of female adolescents and young adults. Prevalence of dieting, degree of dietary restraint, perception of hunger, and nutritional content of diets was studied. Further, severity of dieting, length of time spent dieting, perception of family cohesion, and perception of family adaptability were used to predict bulimia symptoms in female adolescents and young adults. Responses from 230 females, ages 13 to 25 years old, from three middle schools, four senior high schools, and one large midwestern university were analyzed. All participants completed a battery of instruments which included the Bulimia Test, Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale, Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire, the Hunger subscale of the Three Factor Questionnaire, and author-developed scales to gather demographic information and to assess length of dieting and dieting techniques. Participants also completed food logs for at least five days by recording all caloric intake. Results indicated that dieting was prevalent in the sample. Roughly one-third of the sample reported never having dieted. Sixteen percent of the sample were currently dieting. The dieters were classified as chronic, frequent, or first-time dieters depending on the number of days spent dieting over the lifetime and on the number of diets begun. Multiple analysis of variance (MANOVAs) indicated the groups differed with respect to age, percent overweight, and many indices of eating behavior, but did not differ with respect to nutritional intake, perception of hunger, or perception of family cohesion and adaptability. Models for the prediction of endorsement of bulimic symptoms were found using stepwise multiple regression. A substantial proportion of the variance in scores on the Bulimia Test and some subscales was predicted using measures of severity of dieting and perception of family cohesion. Length of dieting and perceptions of family adaptability were not found to be predictors. The results support a view of dieters as a heterogeneous group. Also, the results support the notion that the term, dieting , encompasses a variety of behaviors, all of which may not be problematic. Theoretical implications of the results are discussed