BODY EXPERIENCE IN ADOLESCENT ANOREXICS, THEIR MOTHERS AND SISTERS - A CONTROLLED-STUDY

Body image disturbance is a main diagnostic criterion for anorexia ner vosa. However, its transmission in families has never been studied emp irically. Our study compared the body experience of a consecutive seri es of 29 adolescent anorexics at initial assessment (DSM-III-R, mean a ge 14,4 years), their mothers (n = 29) and 9 sisters with a control gr oup of 29 healthy girls (matched in age and education), their mothers (n = 29) and 10 sisters, using the Body Experience Questionnaire (Stra uss u. Appelt 1983). Within-group comparison revealed no significant d ifferences in the control group. Although anorexics showed a more nega tive body experience than their mothers and sisters, the between-group comparisons revealed no significant differences to healthy controls, neither in cases nor in their sisters. Surprisingly, mothers of anorex ics reported a significantly more positive body experience than contro l mothers. Whereas in patients and their mothers a correlation of inse curity was found, the control mother-daughter-pairs revealed a correla tion of attractiveness. In the transmission of body experience amongst female family members negative aspects seem to play a major role betw een mothers and their anorexic daughters, whereas positive aspects cor relate significantly in healthy mothers and daughters; mothers of anor exics may communicate specific negative aspects of body experience to anorexic daughters or anorexics might be more susceptible to such mess ages. If further studies confirm our results, this should have consequ ences for treatment.