Family dysfunction and bulimic psychopathology: The mediating role of shame

Objective: Although disturbed family function has some association with bul imic psychopathology, the psychological mechanisms that account for that li nk are not clear. This study explores the hypothesis that shame acts as a m ediator in that relationship, whereas shame-proneness is a moderator variab le. Method: The participants were 139 nonclinical women. Each completed mea sures of perceived family function, shame-proneness, internalized shame, an d bulimic psychopathology. Regression analyses were used to test for the me diating and moderating effects of shame. Results: The findings were compati ble with a model where shame-proneness acts as a moderator and internalized shame is a perfect mediator in the link between paternal overprotection an d bulimic attitudes. Conclusions: The experience of shame appears to be a c ritical element in understanding the relationship between perceived family dysfunction and bulimic psychopathology. Where individuals perceive their f amilies as problematic, it may be clinically valuable to focus on shame as a psychological consequence of that experience. (C) 2000 by John Wiley & So ns, Inc.