Binge and Purge Behavior Among Adolescents: Associations with Sexual and Physical Abuse in a Nationally Representative Sample: The Commonwealth Fund Survey

• NCJ Number: 205936
• Journal: Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 25 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2001 Pages: 771-785
• Author(s): Diann M. Ackard; Dianne Neumark-Sztainer; Peter J. Hannan; Simone French; Mary Story
• Editor(s): Richard D. Krugman
• Date Published: June 2001
• Length: 15 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined associations between binge and purge behavior and sexual and physical abuse among adolescents, attempted to determine if these associations remained after controlling for sociodemographic and anthropometric characteristics and identified aspects of abuse associated with binge and purge behavior.

Abstract

There have been many studies which have contributed to the research literature addressing the relationship between childhood abuse and disordered eating behaviors with the relationship seen as controversial. The purpose of this study was to expand upon the body of literature in the area of this relationship by investigating binge and purge behavior in a nationally representative sample of adolescent girls and boys. Additional factors, such as type of abuse, location of abuse, abuser, and frequency of abuse were investigated in order to clarify the association between abuse and binge-purge behavior. Participants included a sample 6,728 adolescents in 5th through 12th grade, from 297 public and private schools in the United States. Participants completed the 1997 Commonwealth Fund Survey of the Health of Adolescent Girls and Boys. Overall, approximately 13.4 percent of adolescent girls and 7.1 percent of boys indicated they had engaged in binge-purge behavior. Abuse experiences were widespread; physical abuse was more common than sexual abuse among both girls and boys. Those sexually or physically abused were more likely to engage in binge and purge behavior than their nonabused peers. The odds of engaging in binge-purge behavior were highest for girls and boys who had been both sexually and physically abused. Characteristics specific to the abuse were not widely associated with binge-purge behavior. Only girls who were physically abused away from home and/or by a nonfamily member were more likely to engage in binge-purge behavior. To assist youth with processing their feelings verbally instead of through a self-destructive manner, accessible and confidential health services are needed, in addition to training professionals, parents, and educators on how to conduct these difficult discussions. References