Early unwanted sexual experiences, obsessionality & eating disorders

Abstract

This study proposes that obsessionality develops as a result of early unwanted sexual experiences, and that this obsessionality can predispose individuals to eating disorders. A group of 74 young female undergraduates was used to study these relationships. Significant correlations were found amongst the variables but were insufficiently robust to support the proposed model.The link between obsessionality and eating disorders was initially put forward by Palmer and Jones (1939), and supported by Rothenberg (1988). Obsessive-compulsive symptoms were found in a quarter of anorexics studied. Smartet al(1976) also investigated and noted this link. Johnson and Holloway (1988) noted that bulimic patients score higher on obsessionality than both anorexics and controls. This relationship however is still poorly understood (Fahy, 1991). Freud (1962) argued that sexual abuse was an antecedent of hysteria, which she regarded as a key feature of anorexia. Halmi and Crisp (1980) maintain that anorexia reflects an association between oral and sexual gratification and impregnation. Calam and Slade (1987, 1989) reported a relationship between unwanted sexual experiences and eating disorders in a subclinical group. Significant correlations were found between various subscales of sexual experiences, obsessionality and eating disorders. However, these were not found to be discriminative features across the operationally defined groups of eating disorders. Suggestions are made for improvements to the research design and clinical implications for counselling psychologists are addressed.