Objective: Examine the relationship between temperament variables and perce
ptions of nonshared environment as they relate to bulimia nervosa. Method:
Fifty-seven adult women completed the Tridimensional Personality Questionna
ire and the Sibling Inventory of Differential Experience. These measures pr
ovided assessments of frequently studied temperament traits as well as nons
hared environmental factors believed to be associated with psychopathology
and temperament. Results: Bulimic subjects showed higher levels of harm avo
idance than did control subjects. Also, bulimic subjects perceived their fa
thers as less affectionate and more controlling than control subjects. Amon
g bulimics, high levels of harm avoidance were associated with high levels
of maternal affection and low levels of maternal control. Similarly, among
bulimics, high levels of novelty seeking were more likely to be associated
with decreased paternal control than was true for control subjects. Discuss
ion: These findings highlight the possible relationship between particular
temperamental variables and associated family responses in bulimia nervosa.
(C) 2000 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.