PREDICTING ONSET AND CESSATION OF BULIMIC BEHAVIORS DURING ADOLESCENCE - A LONGITUDINAL GROUPING ANALYSIS

Because research has not examined the predictors of the onset and cess ation of specific bulimic behaviors, the present study tested whether a series of putative risk factors predicted the onset and cessation of binge eating and compensatory behaviors over a 9-month period in a co mmunity sample of female adolescents (N = 218). Greater perceived soci al pressure to be thin, internalization of the thin-ideal, body dissat isfaction, dieting, and negative affect predicted the onset of binge e ating and compensatory behaviors. Further, lower thin-ideal internaliz ation, body dissatisfaction, and dieting predicted the cessation of th ese behaviors. Multivariate analyses suggested that this set of risk f actors predicted the onset of binge eating and compensatory behaviors, but showed weaker relations to the cessation of these behaviors. Resu lts support the assertion that these variables constitute risk factors for the development of bulimic behaviors, but suggest that somewhat d ifferent processes may serve to maintain bulimic symptoms.