Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Binge and purge behavior among adolescents: associations with sexual and physical abuse in a nationally representative sample: the Commonwealth Fund survey.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Ackard, DM; Neumark-Sztainer, D; Hannan, PJ; French, S; Story, M
Published in: Child Abuse Negl
June 2001

OBJECTIVES: (1) To examine associations between binge and purge behavior and sexual and physical abuse among adolescents; (2) to determine if these associations remain significant after controlling for sociodemographic and anthropometric characteristics; and (3) to identify aspects of abuse associated with binge and purge behavior. METHOD: A nationally representative sample of 6728 adolescents in 5th-12th grades completed the Commonwealth Fund Survey of the Health of Adolescent Girls and Boys. RESULTS: Binge and purge behavior was nearly twice as prevalent among girls (13%) as boys (7%), and was significantly associated with all abuse types (physical, sexual, or both). Associations were strongest among individuals who had experienced both physical and sexual abuse [odds ratios 4.28 (girls) and 8.25 (boys)]. Differences in binge and purge behavior by gender and type of abuse across abuse characteristics were limited. A higher percentage of abused youth that did not discuss their abuse reported binge-purge behavior than those who did discuss their abuse. Abused girls and boys who did talk to someone about the abuse most often discussed the abuse with their best friend (42.5% and 18.0%, respectively), their mother (38.8% and 32.2%, respectively), and their friends (27.2% and 19.5%, respectively). DISCUSSION: Being physically and/or sexually abused was associated with greater likelihood for engaging in binge and purge behaviors. Discussing the abuse experience with another person may help to reduce binge-purge behavior, as abused adolescents who did not discuss the abuse were more likely to report binge-purge behavior than those who did discuss their abuse.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

Child Abuse Negl

DOI

ISSN

0145-2134

Publication Date

June 2001

Volume

25

Issue

6

Start / End Page

771 / 785

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Social Class
  • Self Disclosure
  • Psychology, Adolescent
  • Prevalence
  • Male
  • Interpersonal Relations
  • Humans
  • Health Surveys
  • Female
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Ackard, D. M., Neumark-Sztainer, D., Hannan, P. J., French, S., & Story, M. (2001). Binge and purge behavior among adolescents: associations with sexual and physical abuse in a nationally representative sample: the Commonwealth Fund survey. Child Abuse Negl, 25(6), 771–785. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0145-2134(01)00238-1
Ackard, D. M., D. Neumark-Sztainer, P. J. Hannan, S. French, and M. Story. “Binge and purge behavior among adolescents: associations with sexual and physical abuse in a nationally representative sample: the Commonwealth Fund survey.Child Abuse Negl 25, no. 6 (June 2001): 771–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0145-2134(01)00238-1.
Ackard DM, Neumark-Sztainer D, Hannan PJ, French S, Story M. Binge and purge behavior among adolescents: associations with sexual and physical abuse in a nationally representative sample: the Commonwealth Fund survey. Child Abuse Negl. 2001 Jun;25(6):771–85.
Ackard, D. M., et al. “Binge and purge behavior among adolescents: associations with sexual and physical abuse in a nationally representative sample: the Commonwealth Fund survey.Child Abuse Negl, vol. 25, no. 6, June 2001, pp. 771–85. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/s0145-2134(01)00238-1.
Ackard DM, Neumark-Sztainer D, Hannan PJ, French S, Story M. Binge and purge behavior among adolescents: associations with sexual and physical abuse in a nationally representative sample: the Commonwealth Fund survey. Child Abuse Negl. 2001 Jun;25(6):771–785.
Journal cover image

Published In

Child Abuse Negl

DOI

ISSN

0145-2134

Publication Date

June 2001

Volume

25

Issue

6

Start / End Page

771 / 785

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Social Class
  • Self Disclosure
  • Psychology, Adolescent
  • Prevalence
  • Male
  • Interpersonal Relations
  • Humans
  • Health Surveys
  • Female