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An examination of willingness to self‐disclose in women with bulimic symptoms considering the context of disclosure and negative affect levels
Author(s) -
Evans Lynette,
Wertheim Eleanor H.
Publication year - 2002
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/eat.10020
Subject(s) - affect (linguistics) , self disclosure , psychology , context (archaeology) , developmental psychology , social psychology , clinical psychology , communication , paleontology , biology
Objective This study explored the relationship between bulimic symptoms and self‐disclosure. It examined whether women who reported greater bulimic symptomatology were generally less willing to self‐disclose in intimate relationships or whether reluctance to disclose was confined to eating and weight concerns. Method Women with high and low scores on the Bulimia Test Revised (BULIT‐R) were compared on self‐disclosure about three topics (daily activities, eating, and weight) and sexual and relationship issues to three targets (mother, friend, and partner). Results There were significant main and interaction effects for BULIT‐R score, target, and topic of self‐disclosure. When depression was controlled for, it partially explained the association between bulimic behavior and self‐disclosure. Discussion Results supported a contextual model of self‐disclosure. Compared with nonbulimic women, women with bulimic symptoms were less willing to self‐disclose certain topics to particular targets. Levels of depression explained low willingness to disclose on topics unrelated to eating and weight to some targets. © 2002 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 31: 344–348, 2002; DOI 10.1002/eat.10020