PSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS IN THE ONSET OF EATING DISORDERS - RESPONSES TO LIFE-EVENTS AND DIFFICULTIES

A number of studies have proposed a role for stress in the onset of ea ring disorders. Initially the focus was on the life-events and difficu lties themselves. However, the aim of this study was to examine the co ping and support elicited in response to the crises that precipitate o nset of earing disorders. Thirty-two women who had developed an earing disorder within four years of presentation were administered semi-str uctured interviews asking about events and difficulties in the year be fore onset, as well as how they coped and the support they received. T wenty women with no history of eating disorders acted as a comparison group. Results show that the onset of anorexic symptoms is associated with cognitive avoidance in response to a crisis while the onset of bu limic symptoms is associated with cognitive rumination. In addition, w omen who developed an eating disorder were more likely to be helpless in response to the crisis than women who did not develop an eating dis order. It is concluded that coping interventions may be useful in term s of primary and relapse prevention.