SchizophreniaProject

 

Sexual abuse represents an important risk factor for eating disorders.

 

Sexual abuse is a painful, relatively common event in the history of a woman: statistics report prevalence ranging from 10% to 30% of the interviewed in the general population.  

 

^{A recent study carried out by Doctor Antonio Preti and his co-workers in Sardinia found that childhood sexual abuse, in particular, is linked to a statistically significant higher chance of reporting symptoms of eating disorder in adulthood.}

 

^{In the investigated sample, including around 130 young women aged 18 to 30, those who suffered sexual abuse of any kind before the age of 12 years old were more likely to report symptoms of eating disorders compared to well-matched controls.} 

 

^{Sexual abuse has a significant and lasting effect on body image, identity, and interpersonal functioning. Young women who had been sexually abused reported more body dissatisfaction and self-consciousness, and less satisfaction  with themselves and in relationship, and in this study bodily dissatisfaction acted as intervening variable in the link between sexual abuse before 12 years old and eating disorder symptoms.}

 

^{Clinicians and nursing staff, concluded Dr Preti and co-workers, should acquire greater awareness of the problems associated with the treatment of people with eating disorders who suffered from sexual abuse.}

 

 

Reference:                                        

Antonio Preti, Elisabetta Incani, Maria Valeria Camboni, Donatella Rita Petretto, Carmelo Masala.

Sexual abuse and eating disorder symptoms: The mediator role of bodily dissatisfaction.

Comprehensive Psychiatry, 2006; 47: 475-481.

 

Contacts:

 

Dr Antonio Preti

SchizophreniaProject

www.schizophreniaproject.org

e-mail:          apreti@tin.it