Effects of Intrafamilial Sexual Assault on Eating Behaviors

Abstract

Recent research has linked sexual assaults with disordered eating behaviors. Whether the relationship of the perpetrator, intrafamilial or extrafamilial affects the development of disturbed eating is not known. Using data from 190 university women, we found that women with histories of intrafamilial assaults were more likely to suffer a serious eating problem (17 of 36 subjects, 47%) than women who had no history of sexual assault (30 of 142 subjects, 21%) and women who only reported extrafamilial assaults (76 of 212 subjects, 36%,).