Personality features differentiate late adolescent females and males with chronic bulimic symptoms

Objective: The authors examined gender differences in bulimia-related perso nality variables among late adolescents with chronic bulimic symptoms. Meth od: Ninety-seven females and 14 males were included in the study. They part icipated in surveys in 1982, and again in 1992, and at each session reporte d elevated bulimic symptoms. Each respondent completed subscales of the Eat ing Disorders Inventory (Bulimia, Drive for Thinness, Perfectionism, and In terpersonal Distrust). Results: Even compared to males with Similar levels of chronic bulimic symptoms, females with chronic bulimic symptoms reported more drive for thinness; compared to females with chronic bulimic symptoms , males with chronic bulimic symptoms reported more perfectionism and inter personal distrust. Discussion: Late adolescent males and females with chron ic bulimic symptoms can be distinguished on the basis of personality featur es. These findings have implications for theory as well as for clinical ass essment and therapeutics. (C) 2000 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.