Speculations on the Role of Childhood Abuse in the Development of Eating Disorders Among Women

Abstract Although many have suggested that child sexual and perhaps physical abuse may predispose young women to the development of eating disorders, others assert that little empirical evidence exists to support such assertions. Nonetheless, clinicians agree that for some women, the experience of abusive events in childhood may be conceptually important in understanding the complex genesis of their eating disorder and therefore in facilitating treatment. We propose that child abuse may be related to the subsequent development of eating disorders, particularly bulimic disorders, according to the following preliminary model. The model includes the elements of: 1) child abuse, including its developmental effects on seg- and body-concepts; 2) vulnerable temperaments; 3) predisposition to comorbid conditions, particularly aflective and alcoholl substance use disorders; 4) deficits in aflect regulation; and 5) family andlor peer environments emphasizing weight, appearance, and dieting.