Two-three-year stability and interrelations of bulimotypic indicators and depressive and anxious symptoms in middle-aged women

OBJECTIVE: There is a paucity of research examining eating disorder symptoms among middle-aged women. METHOD: This prospective study assessed the stability of bulimic symptoms and 5 associated variables (perfectionism, depressive symptoms, self-esteem, anxiety symptoms, and perceived weight status) in a sample of 150 middle-aged women (mean age = 45.19 years) over a 2.5-year time period. In addition, interrelations among bulimic, anxiety, and depressive symptoms were assessed. RESULTS: Results suggested that all 6 bulimia-related variables remained significantly stable over 2.5 years. In addition, notable relations between Time 1 and Time 2 variables emerged (e.g., anxious symptoms at Time 1 predicted bulimic symptoms at Time 2). CONCLUSION: Thus, the results indicate that bulimic symptoms exist in middle-aged women, and that they remain relatively stable over a 2.5-year time period. Clinical implications for middle-aged women with eating disorder symptoms are discussed.