SOCIOTROPY, AUTONOMY, AND BULIMIC SYMPTOMATOLOGY

Objective: The cognitive-behavioral model of bulimia nervosa suggests that maladaptive cognitions are associated with the development and ma intenance of bulimia nervosa. This study was conducted to evaluate (a) the relation between bulimic symptomatology and the cognitive-persona lity styles of sociotropy (reflecting themes of acceptance and approva l) and autonomy (reflecting themes of independence and achievement), a nd (b) the specificity of the relation between these two cognitive-per sonality styles and bulimic versus depressive symptoms. Method: 105 un dergraduate women were administered self-report measures of sociotropy and autonomy, as well as bulimic and depressive symptomatology. Resul ts: Whereas both sociotropy and autonomy were related to bulimic sympt omatology, only sociotropy was uniquely associated with symptoms of bu limia when controlling for the effects of depressive symptoms. Discuss ion: Themes of acceptance and approval may be important cognitive-pers onality features of bulimia nervosa. (C) 1998 by John Wiley & Sons,Inc .