Citation

Feldman MB, Meyer IH. Int. J. Eat. Disord. 2007; 40(5): 418-423.

Affiliation

Medical and Health Research Association of New York City, Inc., New York, New York, USA. fel26@aol.com

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/eat.20378

PMID

17506080

PMCID

PMC2042584

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study examines the association between eating disorders and a history of childhood abuse in gay and bisexual men, and how substance abuse and depression might impact this relationship. METHOD: 193 white, black, Latino gay, and bisexual men were sampled from community venues. DSM-IV diagnoses of anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder were assessed using the World Health Organization's Composite International Diagnostic Interview. RESULTS: Men with a history of childhood sexual abuse are significantly more likely to have subclinical bulimia or any current full-syndrome or subclinical eating disorder compared with men who do not have a history of childhood sexual abuse. A history of depression and/or substance use disorders did not mediate this relationship. CONCLUSION: Researchers should study other potential explanations of the relationship between a history of childhood abuse and eating disorders in gay and bisexual men. Clinicians working with gay and bisexual men who have a history of childhood abuse should assess for disordered eating as a potential mechanism to cope with the emotional sequelae associated with abuse.

Language: en