Two-three-year stability and interrelations of bulimotypic indicators and depressive and anxious symptoms in middle-aged women

• Published in: The International journal of eating disorders Vol. 39; no. 4; pp. 312 - 319
• Main Authors: Procopio, C.A, Holm-Denoma, J.M, Gordon, K.H, Joiner, T.E. Jr
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.05.2006; Wiley; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: abnormal behavior; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Anxiety; Anxiety - epidemiology; anxious symptoms; Biological and medical sciences; Body Image; Bulimia; Bulimia - epidemiology; Bulimia - psychology; bulimotypic indicators; Comorbidity; Depression; Depression - epidemiology; depressive symptoms; Eating disorders; Female; Florida - epidemiology; Humans; Medical sciences; Mental depression; Middle age; Middle Aged - psychology; middle-aged adults; middle-aged women; Mood disorders; Prospective Studies; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Regression Analysis; Self Concept; symptoms; Women; Florida; Human; Mood disorder; Symptomatology; middle-aged women; anxious symptoms; Adult; Depression; Female; bulimotypic indicators; depressive symptoms
• ISSN: 0276-3478; 1098-108X
• DOI: 10.1002/eat.20242

Objective: There is a paucity of research examining eating disorder symptoms among middle-aged women. Method: This prospective study assessed the stability of bulimic symptoms and 5 associated variables (perfectionism, depressive symptoms, self-esteem, anxiety symptoms, and perceived weight status) in a sample of 150 middle-aged women (mean age = 45.19 years) over a 2.5-year time period. In addition, interrelations among bulimic, anxiety, and depressive symptoms were assessed. Results: Results suggested that all 6 bulimia-related variables remained significantly stable over 2.5 years. In addition, notable relations between Time 1 and Time 2 variables emerged (e.g., anxious symptoms at Time 1 predicted bulimic symptoms at Time 2). Conclusion: Thus, the results indicate that bulimic symptoms exist in middle-aged women, and that they remain relatively stable over a 2.5-year time period. Clinical implications for middle-aged women with eating disorder symptoms are discussed.