State self‐esteem ratings in women with bulimia nervosa and bulimia nervosa in remission

Objective: Bulimia nervosa (BN) is associated with low self‐esteem. This study was designed to assess whether low self‐esteem persists in nondepressed individuals who have recovered from BN (BN‐R). Method: Study groups included BN ( n = 22), BN‐R ( n = 20), and healthy controls ( n = 42). Participants were medication‐free, and none met criteria for current major depression. Assessment instruments included the State Self‐Esteem Scale (SSES), a self‐rating scale designed to measure state‐related changes in self‐esteem. Results: Consistent with previous reports, SSES scores for BN were lower than for controls ( p < .001). For BN‐R, SSES scores were higher than for BN ( p < .001), but lower than for controls ( p < .025). For BN‐R, scores on the SSES Appearance subscale were inversely correlated with ratings of dietary restraint ( p < .005). Conclusion: This study provides new evidence for persistent low self‐esteem following recovery from BN. Follow‐up studies are needed to assess whether low self‐esteem contributes to recurrent dieting and risk for relapse. © 2007 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2008