The Relationship of Family Stability and Family Mealtime Frequency with Bulimia Symptomatology

Abstract

The present study extended previous research reporting an association between frequency of family mealtimes and bulimia nervosa by exploring whether family mealtimes might be a component of a larger construct of family stability. One hundred thirty-four female undergraduates completed retrospective measures of family stability, frequency of shared family mealtimes, and a measure of bulimia symptomatology. Results indicate that family stability is a more comprehensive predictor of bulimia symptomatology than meal frequency alone. Implications for intervention and treatment options are discussed.