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Self‐change in bulimia: A preliminary study
Author(s) -
Stanton Annette L.,
Rebert Wendy M.,
Zinn Lesli M.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/1098-108x(198607)5:5<917::aid-eat2260050512>3.0.co;2-a
Subject(s) - psychology , binge eating , bulimia nervosa , clinical psychology , behavior change , eating disorders , developmental psychology , social psychology
This investigation explored the extent and nature of self‐change in bulimia. Of 392 female undergraduates who were screened, 4% were classified as currently bulimic, 19% as formerly bulimic, 4% as compulsive eaters, 28% as atypical eaters, and 45% as normal eaters. Twenty‐nine former bulimics participated in a session assessing factors in the transtheoreticat model of change. Fifteen of the 29 were designated as self‐changers in both binge eating and purging. From these results, 42% of the total bulimic sample was estimated to have engaged in self‐change. Results suggested that former bulimics emphasized helping relationships, self‐liberation, and counterconditioning in the change process. Research and clinical implications of the results are discussed.