DIFFERENTIAL FAMILY ENVIRONMENTS OF BULIMICS AND VICTIMS OF CHILDHOODSEXUAL ABUSE - ACHIEVEMENT ORIENTATION

Although bulimics' family functioning usually is reported to be abnorm al, the present study examined whether these abnormalities are specifi c to bulimia or whether they may be due to covariation with another pr oblem associated with abnormal family functioning, childhood sexual ab use (CSA). Consistent with prior research, the family environments of bulimic and normal eaters, as well as abused and nonabused subjects, d iffered significantly. However, when eating behavior and abuse status were analyzed concurrently, significant differences between bulimics a nd normals failed to emerge. Abnormal family environment was associate d more closely with CSA than with bulimia. The one abnormality unique to bulimia was the family's heightened emphasis on achievement. The po tential importance of familial achievement orientation is discussed.