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Reported sexual abuse and bulimic psychopathology among nonclinical women: The mediating role of shame
Author(s) -
Murray Clare,
Waller Glenn
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.10062
Subject(s) - shame , psychopathology , psychology , sexual abuse , clinical psychology , poison control , suicide prevention , social psychology , medicine , environmental health
Abstract Objective Despite consistent evidence that a reported history of sexual abuse is linked to later bulimic psychopathology, less is known about the psychological processes that underpin this relationship. This study examines the hypothesis that shame acts as a mediator in the link between reported sexual abuse and bulimic attitudes. Method A nonclinical sample of female undergraduates (N = 214) completed standardized measures of experiences of sexual abuse, internalized shame, and bulimic psychopathology. Regression analyses were used to test for the mediating role of shame. Results The findings were compatible with a model where levels of shame partially account for the relationship between any history of reported sexual abuse and bulimic psychopathology, but entirely account for the link between intrafamilial abuse and bulimic attitudes. Conclusions The experience of shame appears to be important in understanding the relationship between reported sexual abuse and bulimic attitudes. Where individuals report a history of sexual abuse, particularly intrafamilial abuse, it may be clinically useful to focus on shame as a psychological consequence of that experience. © 2002 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 32: 186–191, 2002.