Eating Disorders,Normative Eating Self‐Efficacy and Body Image Self‐Efficacy: Women in Recovery Homes

Although eating disorders (EDs) and ED symptoms are common among individuals in recovery for substance abuse (SA), long‐term SA treatment programmes rarely address these problems. The present study examined the prevalence of EDs among women residing in Oxford Houses—low‐cost, self‐governed recovery homes for SA. Further, among women both with and without an ED diagnosis, the association between duration of Oxford House residency and eating‐related self‐efficacy scores was examined as an indicator of potential treatment effects on ED symptoms. During a telephone assessment, participants were administered the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐IV‐TR Axis I Disorders and the Eating Disorder Recovery Self‐Efficacy Questionnaire. Results indicated that 12 of the 31 women analysed met criteria for an ED (bulimia nervosa, 2; ED not otherwise specified, 10). Differential findings were evident for eating‐related self‐efficacy measures depending on ED diagnostic status and duration of residency. Potential interpretations, limitations and implications are discussed. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.