Seventy-two young adult women identified by the Bulimic
Investigatory Test, Edinburgh (BITE) as having a high probability of
suffering from bulimia nervosa were compared with 72 matched controls
who did not display bulimic symptoms. Both groups were given measures
of sexual abuse history, dissociation, and early family mealtime
experiences. Rates of self-reported sexual abuse after the age of 12
with an adult relative as the perpetrator were significantly greater
in the women diagnosed as bulimic. Nonsignificant but high rates of
sexual abuse prior to age 12 were also found for this
group. Dissociative experiences were also significantly more common in
the bulimic group overall, and higher still for bulimic women who
reported sexual abuse as children. Bulimic women had more negative and
unusual mealtime experiences than nonbulimic women. Results suggest
that sexual abuse may be related to the subsequent onset of bulimia
nervosa for some women.