Beliefs of women concerning causes and risk factors for bulimia nervosa

Date

2004

Authors

Mond, Jonathan
Hay, Phillipa J
Owen, Cathy
Beumont, Pierre J V
Rodgers, Bryan

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Publisher

SAGE Publications

Abstract

Objective: To examine the beliefs of women concerning causes and risk factors for eating-disordered behaviour. Method: Face-to-face interviews were conducted with a community sample of 208 women aged 18-45 years. Respondents were presented with a vignette describing a fictional person meeting diagnostic criteria for bulimia nervosa (BN) and were asked to indicate whether each of several factors was 'very likely', 'likely' or 'not likely' to be a cause of the problem described, which factor was most likely to be a cause, and whether particular subgroups of people would be 'more likely', 'less likely' or 'equally likely' to have or develop the problem described. Results: 'Having low self-esteem' was considered very likely to be a cause of BN by 75.0% of respondents, and the most likely cause by 40.5% of respondents. Other factors perceived as significant were 'problems from childhood', 'portrayal of women in the media', 'being overweight as a child or adolescent' and 'day-to-day problems', while genetic factors and pre-existing psychological problems were perceived to be of minor significance. Most respondents believed that women aged under 25 years were at greatest risk of having or developing BN. Conclusions: Women's beliefs concerning causes and risk factors for BN are generally consistent with empirical evidence. However, information concerning the increased risk associated with pre-existing anxiety and affective disorders might usefully be included in prevention programs. Systematic investigation of the benefits of addressing individuals' beliefs concerning risk factors for eating disorders - as opposed to risk factors per se - would be of interest.

Description

Keywords

Keywords: adult; age; anxiety; article; bulimia; community; eating disorder; female; heredity; human; human experiment; interview; mood disorder; obesity; risk assessment; risk factor; sample; self esteem; social psychology; Adolescent; Adult; Anxiety; Attitude to Bulimia nervosa; Mental health literacy; Prevention; Risk factors

Citation

Source

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry

Type

Journal article

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