An explorative study on the experiences of Bulimic women who have been sexually abused

Abstract

Eating disorders, rnay be conceived of as a psychological and physiological disorder' which has received a large amount of attention from academics from various disciplines. The incidence rates and aetiological factors involved in the development of eating disorders, specifically anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa have recently been highlighted. A number of researchers have suggested that sexual abuse is a predominant factor in the development of bulimia while other researchers argue that the relationship between sexual abuse and bulimia remains unclear- This study is a qualitative exploration of bulimic women's experiences of sexual abuse and is intended to highlight the 'lived experiences' of these women Thematic content analysis was used to investigate the experiences of the women by using verbatim quotes from the semi-structured interviews that were conducted with the women The women were four participants who were admitted as inpatients into Kenilworth Clinic's Eating Disorders Unit. All four women were diagnosed with Bulimia Nervosa according to the American Psychiatric Association (APA, 1994) criteria and had disclosed to a staff member that they had been sexually abused by either a known or unknown perpetrator. Findings revealed that the participants trad experienced four salient issues that were discussed as themes These themes were anger, issues regarding control the participants' experiences of abusive relationships and feelings of detachment. Based upon the findings of the interviews conducted, recommendations towards enhancing the psychological well being of women who have been sexually abused and diagnosed with bulimia were generated.