Predicting onset and cessation of bulimic behaviors during adolescence: A longitudinal grouping analysis

Because research has not examined the predictors of the onset and cessation of specific bulimic behaviors, the present study tested whether a series of putative risk factors predicted the onset and cessation of binge eating and compensatory behaviors over a 9-month period in a community sample of female adolescents (N = 218). Greater perceived social pressure to be thin, internalization of the thin-ideal, body dissatisfaction, dieting, and negative affect predicted the onset of binge eating and compensatory behaviors. Further, lower thin-ideal internalization, body dissatisfaction, and dieting predicted the cessation of these behaviors. Multivariate analyses suggested that this set of risk factors predicted the onset of binge eating and compensatory behaviors, but showed weaker relations to the cessation of these behaviors. Results support the assertion that these variables constitute risk factors for the development of bulimic behaviors, but suggest that somewhat different processes may serve to maintain bulimic symptoms.