Sexual violence and weight control techniques among adolescent girls

Objective: Research has linked childhood sexual abuse and eating disturbanc es among adult females. Less is known about whether sexual abuse in the for m of dating violence has implications for deviant rr eight control techniqu es among adolescent girls. This study assesses the association between sexu al violence and weight control practices among girls. We also attempt to un tangle the effects of family environment from this association and to deter mine if weak impulse control mediates the association. Method: Survey data were gathered from 2,629 girls in Grades 9-12 to assess health risks. Girls responded to questions regarding dating violence unwanted sexual contact, purging, and diet pill consumption. Logistic regression was used to assess the unique contribution of sexual violence on weight control techniques. Re sults: Dating violence and unwanted sexual contact elevated the probability that girls would report practicing weight control techniques by 6-73%. Con trols for family environment did not eliminate these associations. Weak imp ulse control did not significantly mediate these associations. Discussion: These findings suggest that sexual violence has immediate implications as a risk factor for weight control techniques in adolescence. (C) 2001 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.